Gareth and I are back in Melbourne after our trip up to Brisbane for Finders Keepers. I was getting a little sick of the cold weather here in Melbourne so we spent a few extra days in Brisbane. I wanted to make the most of the 22 degree days and the option of wearing a t-shirt till 9pm at night in winter!Although it wasn't really a holiday as such, we did get to do a few things that had been put off recently. We had some cocktails at The Bowery on Ann Street in the Valley, went to see Ron Mueck at GOMA and saw Exit Through the Gift Shop at the Tribal Theatre. The Robin Gibson '70s architecture of the Queensland Art Gallery overlooking the Brisbane River was also highlight. I first saw it as we took the City Cat from Hill End into the city and thought it was pretty amazing. Getting to travel interstate really is one of the highlights of running your own business and I give Brisneyland a big tick of approval!
Finders Keepers on Saturday and Sunday was great fun. Gareth and I really enjoy watching people's reactions to the cards and moments people share deciding on which card to get. I saw a funny exchange between a young girl and her mother while choosing a card for her own mothers birthday. The young girl was adamant "I love you so much I want to jump on the couch" was the perfect card for a Grandma's birthday! We also did a little bit of shopping, Gareth picked up some very spiffy cufflinks from A Skulk of Foxes and I got a Sarah McNeil bird brooch from the Leeloo stall plus we got some lovely letterpress cards from Bespoke. The event ran really well, the weather was perfect and it was nice to catch up with some familiar faces we don't get to see very often.
Bleeding Heart / 166 Ann Street, Brisbane
On Monday we walked from The Valley to Southbank along Ann Street and found Bleeding Heart on the way. I was drawn to the large 'School of Arts' above the front door so we went in to have a some tea and cake. They have a cafe, a little shop selling local designers wares including Liana Kabel, Biddy Bags, Wicked Child Designs (including The Beatles Softies from the latest Frankie Mag!) and a gallery. Definitely worth a visit if you're in town. The big veranda is the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by.
Bleeding Heart Gallery Space
