You have got to love Layby.

Is it just me or did no one else have a mother who dragged them around the shops and put things on layby? She would then have an excuse to go back to the shop and give the nice lady money every week and one day we would put some huge parcel wrapped up in brown paper with the name on it in the back of the car.. after that it would go up into the void on top of her wardrobe or in the linen press never to be seen again. My parents were divorced so we never heard "SHH dont tell your father." ( Not that any of my cusomers would ever do any such thing.) My mother's constant chant was " SHH dont tell your grand mother. "

Today- I met a great young lady who told me she would never be able to own a designer hand bag because she had never had more than $600 in her bank account. I proceeded to tell her that I also do layby if that helps. "What's that she said? " So I told her well we take a deposit and then you come in every week or fortnite for six weeks or until you finish paying for it whichever is shorter. Being a very savy late teen she asked and how much is the interest?" When I told her you don't get the goods until the payments are completed. She was so astounded..."OMG she said That's great!!"

 Her next question was "What kind of people do layby? " I told her all sorts of people do layby. There was a lady out the front of the shop in a very nice car- she said to me " She wouldn't do layby- would she? She drives a Mercedes!...I winked at her and said " I think she is here to pay something off her lay-by." & she was!!

"Wow !!!" She said You know what ? I think I will have that one!!" She picked up a beautiful Gucci hand bag! 'Yes!' I thought as I carefully packed the bag up for her. The next minute she was upset..."What's the matter?" "I don't have enough money to pay the deposit & pay-day isn't till Friday! I won't ever get my lay by now!! "

Then I told her about 'holds' and said I would keep the bag till Friday for her and she could come and pay her deposit then. She was jumping out of her skin- she was so excited. She spent nearly 15 mins thanking me for teaching her about these great ways to buy bags. As she left the shop I asked her what her plans for tonite were. " I am going home to tell my mum about this!- She will love it!"

As for myself I came home with a smile on my face. I can't wait till Friday and ask her what her Mum said when she told her!!!      
  
  

Oh no NO CHANNEL!!

Today I had the funniest experience a lady walked into the shop and said to me " Wot Channels av you got?" At first I didn't understand what she meant and started to tell her "Sorry but we don't have a TV in the store." to which she answered "Why would I walk inta bag shop and ask 'bout a TV CHANNEL? Ya dumb git! I want a CHANNEL andbag!! Show me a CHANNEL bag!!"

Two weeks ago- I sold most of what I had in stock so I showed her the beautiful camel colored one in the cabinet and she said WOT? This it then? 'ow much? So I told her that it was $1595-

I was then told "Oh F@@K OFF Mate. What's it made of? Gold?" I could see I wasn't going to sell my CHANEL bag to day. So Ellie and I took her advice and went down to the beach for a good run!! We came home and watched news on chanel 7 .

Today I am grateful that I had another customer who loved the store!! God- I feel good today!! I am so greatful to all of you who make my life so rich!!   

Egyptian Revival Jewellery.

Today I found two awesome necklaces they are Egyptian Revival I didn't really know what that meant so I did some research and this is what I found out!!

Egyptian revival was a movement that touched almost every aspect of life in the 1800's. The movement began as a result of Emperor Napolean's army returning from Egypt with large quantities of Egyptian Antiquities. Architects, Potters, Painters, and Jewellers all started to copy the new craze for all things Egytian. Between 1820 to 1850 Egyptian revival became very fashionable and many buildings built during this period were fashioned after Egyptian monuments.

In 1922 Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered and Egyptian Revival once again became popular. Tutankhamen's treasure was one of the first to travel the world and to be seen by so many people. The resulting interest generated in Egyptian revival heavily influenced the Art Deco movement.

These necklaces were produced prior to World War II- and not many pieces survived the war because governments collected it & melted it down to be used for the war effort. As a result pieces like this are extremely rare and very difficult to find!! These stunning necklaces are caste and are extremely ornate. I have put them on my webshop www.avoir.com.au  I hope you love them as much as I do.

Renovating a unit!!!

 Almost 12 months ago I purchased this grungy old unit! The day I saw it I knew it had potential the light in the living room was amazing!! I could see that there was a lot of work to do on it but I was up for the challenge. All I could see was what it could be like!!!

 I love the high ceilings the old brick work and mostly I loved the light that came through the banks of windows that lead out onto the balcony. The timber floors were also fantastic!!!

Soon after I bought the unit I met Nic. Nic has a little workshop over at Budds Beach he is also an amazing artist and his creativity blows me away!! Nic is a really great guy...he loves surfing and paddle skiing. He has the funniest sense of humour and can stretch a dollar!!! He found amazing tiles that we used instead of a glass splash back the cost $25!!! and they look Amazing. Frankly the balcony was so pokey it wasnt really useful. Nic created a bench that sits over the railing creating an outdoor room!!!

It looks amazing- and am a bit sad to have to say I am selling it. Cant wait to do the same to the Labrador Duplex!!!