Heaven in Berrima

Last Friday we had a girls road trip to Berrima in the Southern Highlands (about 2 hours south of Sydney). Main purpose of the trip was to visit an antique shop called Peppergreens. OMG what a place. Jars and jars and tubs of button. Vases of old knitting needles. Heaps of old cake cooling racks. Vast plastic tubs of old trims. Old knives and forks. Two drawers full of french laces. Old photos. Antique quilts and menswear fabric samples. The owner told me a lot of stuff comes from dealers in the UK - bought at big markets. And they find their way to a little corner of Australia.

Here are some photos of the shop - sorry I was too overwhelmed to remember to photograph the very attractive exterior or the very pretty quilt shops we also visited - or the place we had lunch which had a wall at the back completely covered in very red virginia creeper. Another day I hope.

Julie selecting old menswear samples to make a wagga












Rows of antique quilts













Rows of old knitting needles - don't you just want to take them all home?












Drawers of old thimbles and old hand sewing needles












Old buttons still on the original cards










Philippa - as a professional now in textile conservations don't you feel you need to make a field trip to this place? Pictures don't do this place justice. What a treasure trove.

My treasures for the day! Mother of pearl buckles. Mother of pearl buttons. Antique cake rack. And some fabric that just jumped into my bag.

My only regret for the day - should have bought more at Peppergreens!