Monday's Brissie Bargain

There's a lovely Brisbane lady called Rebecca who has an online shop called Edward and Lilly - I liked it because my son is Edward and my dog is Lilly! She makes the cutest little brooches and other handmade gifts and they are so cheap. I bought an owl brooch a few weeks ago and a number of people have commented on it already. The best thing is because they're small, the postage is only $1! Buy something for your friends for their birthdays, or just for you.

Edward and Santa!

Foxy brooch

Friday's cool online shop

Just went to New Zealand and found this great internet shop HuHu which sells cool NZ knick knacks and keepsakes. I got the maori dolls, the tea towel, the NZ charm for my mother in law and the plywood kiwi. The maori dolls had been featured in New Zealand's Your Home and Garden which seems to be a great home mag.

What fun!

Thursday's Brisbane Bargain

So Kikki K - the stationery shop - has 50 percent off its 2010 diaries. It's only one third into the year, so that sounds like a good buy to me! They've got stores at Indooroopilly, Queens Plaza, Chermside, Marina Mirage, Robina, Maroochydore. I also noticed yesterday that K-Mart has a sale on some of its homewares - for example they had a nice little pair of white olive oil dipping bowls for only $4!

Go for it!

Wednesday's Brisbane Bargain

Any fans of shabby chic? Check out this Ebay auction from The Old Boathouse - an antiques and retro dealer in Brissie. It's only got 8 hours to go so you have to be quick, but I can see it in a lounge room as a coffee table, or bedroom at the end of a bed. I think it just needs a quick clean.

Happy bidding!

Tuesday's Brisbane Bargain

Cushion found at the Gabba - what a pattern!

Anyone been to the Woolloongabba Antique Centre at 22 Wellington Road, the Gabba? (Over 60 traders, 1000sqm of airconditioned space and a great 50's-styled coffee shop!) Went there on the weekend, and there are some great bargains to be had. Bought this yellow melamine serving tray for $10 and this fabulous new lounge cushion for $50. There are still some of the cushions left and it looks great in a mix n match kinda way on my dark-coloured lounge suite.

If you go there on a Saturday morning, don't forget to go to the Broadway Hotel car park - they have a fresh food market on - including baked goods, meat and fruit and veg. The meat was the same price as Woolies, but so much better quality. I bought 2.5 kg of blade steak at $18.00 a kilo and cut some into steaks for a bbq that day and the rest straight into the freezer for the next few weeks.

The yellow plate is to add a bit of yellow in the dining room. Check it out!

Today's bargain in Brisbane

Looking to add to your culinary skills? Usually these Marcato Atlas 150 pasta making machines are around $115 at Myer, or Robin's Kitchen, King of Knives, and the like, however at Target at the moment you can get them for $63! The advantage of this brand is that they are made in Italy and made of nickel plated and chrome plated steel - different to the cheaper brands. And boy o boy, you can make the most beautiful fresh pasta. (Four types)

Just look up Jamie Oliver's website on how to do it http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pasta-recipes (or there's instructions in the box, but Jamie is better). You need to buy Type "00" flour from the supermarket for the best results.

I've never been much of a cook, but I love this machine! I made the best lasagne on the weekend.