Adventures in Quilting

I wrote this a few years ago through frustration when I felt my home was being taken over by my wife's quilting hobby. I won't call it an obsession because she has been doing it for half her life and is never in a hurry to complete anything. She just leaves wherever and get backs to her when the mood suits.

Since this piece, kids have moved out and we have repainted, re-carpeted, and got new furniture and she even has a new workroom.

But the problem remains the same.

The 12 inch Vinyl Revival and introducing CAPTAIN STOMP RECORDS.

The 12-inch Vinyl Revival and introducing CAPTAIN STOMP RECORDS.

We all have fond memories of vinyl records, most of us over 50 grew up with them playing a major part in our young adult lives. Then, with the advent of the Compact Disc, vinyl died a quick death with little or no fanfare. The presses shut down and suddenly there was more room in the record shops. Maybe it was the convenience, the mobility or the fact that some vinyl records near the end were pressed so low grade that they scratched on the first play. Either way, it can’t be denied it was a technological advancement in both application and hardware that killed off vinyl records late in the early 1990s.

Move on a few more years and the CD was under threat from the MP3 player, a more compressed file that meant new devices like iPods could hold thousands of hours of music on something you could hide in your pocket. The whole face of music changed. People stopped buying CD’s and started downloading music. Radio stations had less and less influence on what people listened to and the once popular record shops started disappearing from the local shopping centres and strip shops.

But never underestimate nostalgia.

A few years back vinyl started to make a comeback. There were the justified reasons that compressed files didn’t give a true fidelity, which was true in the case of MP3’s. Articles started to appear about how vinyl had a warmer, fuller sound and that was how music was meant to be listened to. Soon vinyl was back to matching CD’s in sales, with downloads still miles in front.

Myself, I still think CD's give great sound if they are WAV. or FLAC. files (sorry for the audiophile gibberish) but my biggest bugbear was that I couldn’t hold those twelve-inch covers with all that marvelous artwork and readable text. (But I’m old, young people see better than me).

These days many artists, especially independent ones are releasing vinyl again as part of their recorded product ranges, with many older bands rereleasing their back catalogues. Even the young music fans are buying vinyl again, thanks to initiatives like Record Store Day and because vinyl hasn’t stayed the same, it learned from its mistakes. Where old pressings prior to the 1990s where thin and cheap, today’s are a whopping 180 gram * (think the same as your grandma’s old 78 records) and the printing quality has improved substantially. 

 Vinyl records are trendy again.

So when I discovered the opening of an independent record shop specializing in new vinyl in Knox, I was straight down there to check it out.

David Thompson Owner of Captain Stomp

Captain Stomp Records is the longtime dream and passion of owner David Thompson. Having worked in Financial Services for over 30 years David laid down the plans for his own record shop in 2015, but it took until  2018 to open a physical shop exactly where and how he wanted. In the process starting up a web-based store as he searched for the right location and researched suppliers and getting the shop design perfect.

Opening in July 2018 Captain Stomp Records is located at 46 Forest Road Ferntree Gully just down from the cemetery. Unlike record shops of old that were cave-like, dark cramp places with walls covered in posters of latest releases and pop stars. Captain Stomp is a bright airy store with rows of neatly placed bins full of new vinyl records covering all genres and artists. The white walls are covered in music related paintings and prints as well as a fireplace and comfy chairs.

The rather forceful name Captain Stomp belies the peaceful atmosphere the shop conveys and is the result of David not being able to secure his first preference Captain Fantastic an album by one of his favourite artists Elton John.

David’s passion for music has been carried on from his childhood where his local record store Stylus in Heathmont fed a desire that led to opening his own shop in retirement. He believes that in time, the shop can even become a hub for all music aficionados to meet and find enjoyment in a common love. I honestly believe this having gone back several times and seeing David give a lot of his time talking with customers about all genres of music with enthusiasm and patience.

The store, besides carrying a massive range for all musical tastes also has available mid price record players, protective sleeves and frames to surround your favourite album cover art.

It's great to see stores like Captain Stomp appear locally and offer an alternative to JB HiFi, I like to compare Captain Stomp Records to a good bookstore, where you can browse the aisles and wonder if I can judge this book (album) by its cover?

A great place to rediscover some old memories or start some brand new ones.

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*180 gram vinyl records are stronger and more durable, so they tend to last longer and resist breakage. ... Heavier vinyl provides a more stable platform for both stylus and cantilever suspension providing extra protection from unwanted vibration that can cause sound degradation at the micro-level.
Related article:
1 -Fist2Face Record Store Day Memories.
2 -RECORD COVERS AND FAILING EYESIGHT
3 -VINYL

This article originally published in the BBCN Issue 171 Feb 2019

The Mystic Market Ferny Creek.

We have some wonderful events up where I live.

One fine day late January 2018.

It was great to drive up the mountain on such a warm day, lucky for us the event we were headed for was on Saturday as Sunday was forecast to be up near the 40 degree mark and I just don’t leave the house on days that hot. I was looking forward to the Mystic Market, as it had been rescheduled to January 27 after being cancelled due to extreme weather in the form of the torrential rainfall we had in early December. I couldn’t help but think if it was held a day later this time, we would see the same thing happen.

The Mystic Market is a celebration of all things magical, fantastical and whimsical. A collection of stalls displaying and selling such diverse crafts as jewellery, clothing, pottery, sculpture and highlighting cosplay, faeries, steampunk and fantasy worlds and creatures. All with a good mixture of fun and participation.

Held at the Ferny Creek recreational reserve, a perfect setting for such an event with the tall gums surrounding the grass oval giving plenty of shade as well as open space. I have soft spot for the old hall on the reserve and today it housed some of the displays and stalls. It’s a lovely old building and I most point out it is also the venue of one of the best collector’s fairs held in the area every weekend prior to Melbourne Cup day and a great one to mark on your calendar. As well the hall the market spread out with many marquees and tents of stall holders which also helped give the whole event a medieval feel.

The stalls, inside and out, were an amazing mixture of wares.Among there were two ladies selling fairy Skeleton's in glass top wooden boxes, a table full of multi-coloured skulls. Another with steampunk style hats complete with goggles, as well as various fantasy swords and knives all with foam blades. One of my favourite stalls was selling detailed sculptures of scenes from Jim Henson’s movies such as Labyrinth and the Dark Crystal.

I bought my wife a mechanical dragonfly from a lady who made steampunk jewellery. There was one lady with lots of facial piercings and an interesting hairstyle that created and sold all manners of horns, the type you stick to the side of your head. I had no idea there were so many variations, most from myth, movies and novels. One stall was selling all manner of wizard staffs, decorated with polished stones and dragon heads.

Many people got into the atmosphere of the market, many dressing as fairies, I saw more wings on grownups than children and though I haven’t been to a tattoo convention, I don’t think I have seen as many tattooed ladies in my life assembled in one place. There was lots of colour and unique designs.

Despite the hot weather people also wore heavier gear, one fellow was ion a suit of armour. Another group of gents were dressed in their swash buckling best including heavy coats. I left early but as the late afternoon settled in a lot more serious cosplay patrons started to arrive and there were some seriously well made up fairies and sprites in the crowd.

All up a fun day and was surprised at the variety of product at very good prices, I already looking forward to the next one.

For more information on where to find the next market and more pictures of the amazing costumes and make up go to www.facebook.com/events/944903772314810/

originally published in The BBCN Issue 264 March 2018