A “curious extraordinarium”

WHEN Trudy McLauchlan was in her early twenties, she thought she would open a gallery.

Years later, she is a curator and champion of makers, but in a different context.

Ms McLauchlan owns Playing in the Attic, a store full of “papery delights” from all over the world, based for the last three and a half years in one of the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute’s heritage shopfronts.

With traditional stationery, art supplies, cards, postcards, jigsaws, notebooks, fountain pens, handmade ceramics, models, dolls and more, she likes to call her shop a “curious extraordinarium.”

“I’m trying to inspire people to do something. There’s nothing electronic in here, everything you have to make,” Ms McLauchlan said. “I have always loved stationery, so I feel like I’m in touch with my inner seven-year-old when beautiful new stationery comes in.

“I love to support local artists and I’ve got half a dozen, at least. I like to source good things that aren’t in every second shop.

“I’ve just got a new French range in, I’ve got things handmade locally, things from the Netherlands, notebooks from Nepal, and I do try and inspire people to journal and draw.”

Playing in the Attic is the only Australian stockist of Cambridge Imprint notebooks and origami kits, and the handmade Deafmessanger range from Prague.

“They’re sold in top end stationery shops in New York, London, Paris… and Ballarat,” Ms McLauchlan said.

In her store’s more peaceful moments, Ms McLauchlan walks the talk.

“I do sit at my desk and I will journal or sketch. People ask, ‘what are you doing? what are you using?’

“They say, ‘I’m so inspired to do something. I don’t know what, but I’m inspired’,” she said.

Although there’s a small children’s section that encourages imagination, Ms McLauchlan emphasised the store is a “bright, colourful and safe space” for all ages.

“It’s about the child within,” she said.

Find Playing in the Attic at 119a Sturt Street.