Tiptoe through the tulips with me

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Tesselaar Tulip Festival for Mr Ed's birthday.  Only a little over an hours drive from Melbourne and you'd be mistaken for thinking this little tulip farm was in Holland.  

Thankfully Melbourne's ever changing weather was fantastic and we sloshed around in the muddy puddles, and all of you who watch a certain children's cartoon know that 'If you jump in muddy puddles, you must wear your boots!' And so we did.

Because I have to dress 'appropriate' I wore my tulip print Swirl dress.

So many colours and shapes and patterns, it was really fascinating and pretty.  And if you have tulips you've got to have a windmill and clogs, of course. Mr Ed trying his best puffing action to get it working - yes Amelie and I were a bit bemused by this as well.

We will certainly return next year to see maybe more tulip varieties, drink some local cider and eat some poffertjes, oh and stop and smell the...tulips.

Dames of Distinction - a Vintage-style Lingerie Boutique & Beauty Salon

It was a few weeks ago now that Jacinta and Margeaux opened their shop Dames of Distinction in the wonderful Art Deco building, Mitchell House in Melbourne.  It really has been a labour of love for them both, sourcing a great venue, furnishing it and stocking it with all sorts of delights ready for their customers.

They really have done a wonderful job turning this space into something special and a delight to visit.

So what is Dames of Distinction exactly? Well it's made up of two spaces: a Vintage-style Lingerie Boutique & Beauty Salon.  

The Lingerie Boutique is run by Jacinta who has had an online lingerie boutique for the past year and a half, she now stocks What Katie Did, Rago and a carefully selected range of vintage lingerie. (she still has an online presence with Betty and Ginger if you are not able to visit her bricks and mortar shop).

The Beauty Salon in the back room has hair styling and makeup services by Margeaux who has been styling and creating wonderful vintage looks for 5 years. Wouldn't you love to sit under that pale pink hairdryer and wile away an afternoon of being made over for a special event or just have your hair set for the week.

Dames of Distinction is a wonderful space, run by two wonderful ladies who have a wealth of knowledge to share with all those who either know what they want or for those who are not quite sure what they need or what would suit them. 

Oh and I just happened to purchase a little something for myself on my last visit, how could I not?

For all their contact details, shop opening times and price list you can visit their website or I've popped a few details down here for quick reference: 

Mitchell House

Level 1, 358 Londsdale Street

Melbourne 3000

Tuesday - Friday 11am-4pm

Saturday 10am - 3pm

telephone: (03) 9640 0555

Dames soiree and discount day is taking place on the 26th October (Saturday) between 12 and 3pm. Maybe see you there for some pimms?


*The wonderful branding of Dames of Distinction was created by the talented Rebecca Hayes

A shop with the lot - Gleaners Inc.

Someone got a super-duper treat today! From a wonderful shop that beholds some treats you might find familiar.

As most of you know Erin and I run Novelty Brooch Friday and this month the brooch that was so kindly donated to give away was from Liz of Betty Jo. Selling her adorable lino brooches from her treasure trove of a shop Gleaners Inc. she also sells other lovely handmade and vintage goodies fit for a good rummage.

Today I finally got around to visiting her fantastic shop tucked away down a street off of Sydney Road in Brunswick, and it was the first time I had met the lovely Liz in person.

What a wonderful shop, the kind of shop I love to visit. Full of the best kind of treats old and new. 

One of Liz's lino creations.

                                                                                                                                        
Oh lookey here, it's Each to Own's brooches!! Ready to pick up and take home.

  
So don't forget Novelty brooch Friday this week to win one of Liz's unique brooches and if you're in town do drop into Gleaners Inc, just don't forget to bring your purse 'cause you'll want to take everything home.

Bathing Boxes are beautiful

Last weekend we took a day trip to the Mornington Peninsula to see the Archibald art prize, have some lunch and enjoy the glorious day by going for a walk along one of the small strips of beach.

There are over 1300 Bathing Boxes or Beach Boxes, that line Port Phillip Bay and the ones that line this part of the Peninsula are so cute, I think they look like the colours of boiled sweets in a sweet shop.

Bathing Boxes have existed around the bay since the 1860's and are heritage listed buildings along with other landscapes lining Port Phillip Bay. Because laws prevent new boxes being built on the foreshore and families tend to pass them down through the generations, the price of one box can be extremely expensive (the highest price was more than $350,000 AU!!).

I'm not sure about this painted image of a mermaid and friends? Although Little Miss A thought it was tops!

The Australian flag.

They may look small from the front but they go back quite a way.

What a perfect winter day, no breeze, warm sun and a twinkling seaside view, including those fabulous pastel painted Bathing Boxes.

Going back in time on the Puffing Billy

Last weekend we drove out to Belgrave which is about an hours drive from Melbourne into the Dandenong Ranges. 

Our new years resolution was to go on a day trip at least once a month and so June's trip was to take a ride on the Puffing Billy.

 

 The Puffing Billy is over 100 years old and the railway was built in the early 1900s to help establish and develop rural areas. However these days it is a major tourist attraction and is kept running by over 900 volunteers!

It was so exciting when we arrived; the steam engine's were puffing and the air was full of mist - so romantic.

Travelling over the Monbulk Trestle Bridge was one of my favourite sights.

 

Little Miss A got into the swing of things half way through the trip and sat on the edge of the train like all of the other children and some adults, feeling that cool air on her face and feet (I couldn't feel my toes by the end of our trip, I think it was about 5 degrees up there in the mountains that day).

And the views were amazing!!

I loved our return trip to Emerald, we had a little lunch at a wonderful cafe, Little Miss A had a play in the playground and we were back in Melbourne by mid afternoon which was just long enough for a little ones attention span.

An Autumn afternoon at the Convent and a spot of shopping

This week I had a chance to take a half day off of work and watch Little Miss A perform with her kinder at Abbotsford Convent, and the weather was a glorious Autumn day. 

Abbotsford Convent is an amazing public space situated on the Yarra River, close to the centre of Melbourne. 

Now made up of artists studios, a school and cafe's, art gallery and function rooms, it was built between 1900 - 1903 and its original purpose as a convent is still obvious.

The grounds are equally as beautiful. Thankfully they wrapped up filming an Ethan Hawke film by the time I went for a wonder, no I didn't see Mr Hawke, I don't know if I would recognize him? How long has it been since he's been in a decent film?

The flowers were in full bloom and the leaves so, so green and healthy. 

After a long, hot summer, seeing green lush foliage is amazing.

I tried to do my best 60's fashion pose (ha ha ha) with workmen just around the corner I did a quick timer job and ran off and up the hill.

And my shoes got very wet - must remember to scotchguard my shoes again before the wetter weather.

Then I spent the last hour or so (before I picked up Little Miss A from kinder) doing a spot of shopping.  I didn't purchase this turban and I'm a bit sad I didn't but I did find a brown felt cloche that I would get more wear out of.

It was a relaxing afternoon and so lucky the weather was an amazing, crisp Autumn day.

Here's to more.

A drive to pick up Little Miss A

We have my in laws staying with us for 6 weeks! That is why my posts have not been so frequent. I don't know what I'd tell them if they saw me jumping around in our back garden taking photos of myself, I don't think they would understand.

You see I haven't told anyone, not even friends that I have this blog (only Mr Ed knows). I like that it is just something that I do for myself.

So on my way to pick up Little Miss A I thought I would take the chance to take a few photos of my journey.



Autumn is finally here and the leaves are falling and changing colour. I love seasons, in Brisbane, Queensland where I grew up you don't really get that change, it is basically really hot, hot or warm.



Bad traffic, but I like listening to the radio and having a bit of time to myself while it is a full house at home.



Even though the leaves are falling from the trees we still have a lot of palm trees that stay green and survive the cold winter.



The old terrace houses that look like they are about to fall down but cost over $1,000,000 line the streets of inner Melbourne.



And of course our lovely trams that speed down tram only roads, no really they speed!