Kara Rosenlund started as a photographer before moving into prop sourcing and styling in London. She returned to her home town of Brisbane a couple of years ago and is now busy on several creative fronts - she works as a food & interiors stylist and also travels far and wide sourcing beautiful and practical old wares for her lovingly restored 1956-vintage caravan, which operates as a pop-up store. You might have spotted "Frankie" the caravan on a recent cover of Country Style. She also sells her vintage finds online at her Travelling Wares store. You can see more of Kara's world on her website, her blog and via her Instagram feed (follow her @kararosenlund).



Bright and early Saturday mornings you will find my husband Timothy O and I at a farmers market; unfolding the trestle tables, unpacking our vintage caravan Frankie and piling high the new household vintage finds - usually in the dark.



I love showing the old wares in helpful ways to encourage people to start using them again on a daily basis within their homes. We don't sell any plastic; rather glass, wood, ceramic, copper, tin, horn ... materials which feel good in the hand. I am always on the hunt for practical and utilitarian pieces for the home - so useful and hard wearing ... and often far more beautiful than the modern new makes.


After I have set up the tables outside, I come into the caravan and decorate the interiors; especially the walls; sticking bits and pieces  to create little stories ... everything is for sale and it makes it easier for people to see it styled and in place. Then they can go home and experiment with their new pieces.



Just before the market ends I always dash around and collect lots of fresh produce for the week ahead. I love being around so much fresh produce at the farmer's markets. Coming in at dark with the farmers and the 'providores' is really special; it's like a secret club. We have all come to town to share and sell our loved goods, not knowing what the day has install for us ... there is something really primitive about that which I love.



After the market Timothy O and I come home and are usually a bit exhausted. We hang out with our little flock of chickens and generally relax and think about what we are going to make for dinner with the exciting bits we just collected from the market. We fire up the wood fire oven and throw in usually some fish and vegetable and watch the fire dance ... before long you know it's time for bed...



Another really early start - this is a business for a fowl, not an owl ... up with the birds and this time to hit the road in hot pursuit of new wares. Each week's finds are different. People love to come by the caravan to see what is new and hear the story which goes along with the object.



Bucket of goodness ... a recent trip's haul. I never know what I am going to find and come back with; large, small, as long as it is authentic and beautiful and I would be happy to have in in my home.



Timothy O and I usually have a catch up over breakfast one day through the week to see where each other is at.



Since I don't have a physical shop I am always photographing my new pieces; either for the online shop, or the blog or instagram ... ohmygosh, do I love instagram. It is such an immediate way and full of love way of sharing.

Portrait of Kara by Jason Starr.