Halloween and pretty dresses

Happy Halloween.
I've done my bit.

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Now onto something really exciting.

I bought some fabric to start my 'Misses' dress I mentioned in this post earlier this month. I thought I would start off with some cheap fabric just in case it doesn't turn out, but also something that I would wear if it did! And this fabric is so sweet.



I'm going to cut out the pieces tonight and hopefully start sewing this week, depending if little miss A gives me a break.

I'm going for pattern 1. with sleeves.

Wish me luck.

Calendar 2011

I studied Illustration for 4 years at University, 4 years and that was a long time ago.

I am always drawing or painting or creating images in some form or another, just not as a paid professional. I have been thinking of printing some calendars for 2011 with my Gocco along the lines of these portraits. I drew these as postcards to friends and I think they turned out OK.

Or maybe of people jumping!?

Protection from the sun

It's 28 degrees today and yes I am wearing a cardigan.

I'm also wearing the dress I wore to my brothers wedding 5 years ago. It's from Toast, they have some lovely dresses and this was no exception, I think the print is just divine, and this belt seems to go with almost every dress I own.



And as promised....
The sun is out:
cardigan. check
sunscreen. check
driving the car. UV driving gloves. check



Aren't they special. I'll take them off before my lunch date with Mr Ed.

Dress: Toast
Belt: Vintage Garage
Cardigan: Savers
Gloves: Cancer Council

American shirt dress

This shirt dress is from Revolving Styles Etsy shop. I finally got around to taking in the sides and got rid of the batwing-like sleeves. I love shirtdresses, they are just so practical and during the summer it keeps the sun off my neck and arms.

Tomorrow I'll do a post about how paranoid I am about the sun and show you my ever so lovely UV driving gloves (they really aren't lovely) and detatched sleeves I wear while driving in the summer months. I have had a few laughs from friends but hey! At least I won't have old lady hands before my time.

Dress: Revolving Styles
Belt: Oasis
Shoes: Rubi Shoes

Buying sometimes helps others

I bought this top from a shop called Dear Gladys located on my local high street.
Dear Gladys donates all profits to an organisation called Fitted For Work, they are a service that are committed to helping long term unemployed and disadvantaged women obtain work.



I love its wide collar as well



Top: Dear Gladys
Cardigan: Gorman
Trousers: Leonard St

I love cardigans

I bought this lovely handmade top from my favourite 'Op Shop' (that is what we call secondhand shops; Opportunity Shops). It is such a nice fabric and in pristine condition. I hope the person who made it enjoyed it as much as I do.



Top: Savers
Cardigan: H&M
Belt: Oasis
Skirt: Levis

A fringe trim

I cut my fringe myself, I have been a little over zealous at times, and recently as you might be able to see I am growing out the sides as I cut too much (much to the dismay of my hairdresser). Still, if I went to the hairdresser every time I wanted to have my fringe trimmed I'd be in there every week.

I have been looking at a few Blythe images on Flickr and came across this one, for some reason I thought it looked a little like me?? Or maybe it is my subconscious wish to look like a Blythe doll - those dolls are so darn cute and some of the outfits people dress them in are just divine.

Image: Miss Mippy

Oh and Enid from Ghost World would have to come in equal first place for coolest doll.

Top: Marimekko

Cardigan: Savers

Winter legs in Spring

This weekend has been busy, very busy but in a good way. Meeting up with friends, going to the Queen Vic Market for yummy food, going to the gym to work off the yummy food.

I saw a girl at the gym this morning on a treadmill wearing a woolen scarf, hooded jacket and lace leggings, she was running pretty fast in so much clothing.

Dress: Deth Rose Vintage Etsy Shop

Cardigan: Savers

Belt: Vintage Garage

Shoes: Rubi Shoes

Happiness over my heart

Jumping again! Yes the sun came out this afternoon so here I am jumping in front of our ugly sheds. When we moved in we thought:

'Ooo goodie more storage space, who cares if they are ugly'

But really we only need one, and when we looked in one of the sheds it had a fully working toilet!...less storage space.



I am wearing an enamel broach Mr Ed bought me for my birthday this year. It is by Pierre Bex, it has a lovely finish and I like to think it is in the shape of my first initial 'C'



Shirt: Small Earth Vintage Etsy shop
Cardigan: Temt
Skirt: Secret Lake Etsy Shop

Craft hatch this Saturday!

Craft Hatch is having a super duper, big craft market at the State Library this Saturday 23rd October.


Bags by Minnt Design

I might just have to purchase one of these little cute bags...


Crocheted homewares by Teddy Bears Wednesday

and one of these little cuties.

Frankie Magazine

Frankie magazine came out yesterday, it is such a lovely, interesting magazine.

Sometimes I feel a little too old to be buying this magazine when I see the models in their fashion spreads.

I think I'm older than their demographic, but it showcases so many interesting designers, crafts people, shops, books and musicians.

I have my coffee and my muffin, now please don't disturb me for an hour or two.

Silly, Spring Season

Singing in the Sun

Jumping for Joy in the sun under a classic piece of Australian design - the Hills hoist. (I really need to get my hair cut)

Spring shadows

Getting ready to meet Mr Ed for lunch in town at Captains of Industry in my dress from Vintage Garage, I love this dress and its over sized pockets.

Dress: Vintage Garage

Belt: Vintage Garage

A long walk to the park

The weather is wonderful today so I packed up little A and we went for a long walk to a park.



I forgot that being spring the Magpie's are still protecting their nests, so we were on the look out for swooping birds.

Since moving back to Australia from London I have really grown to love the native trees, this is a Gum Tree, I don't know what type but they can grow very tall. Needless to say, don't stand under one in a storm, they have a tendancy to drop their branches.

Top: Fab Gabs Etsy
Skirt: Savers

Cooking in safety

I made this apron a couple of weeks ago, no pattern, just winged it.

It turned out pretty good, and has saved a few dresses from a disastrous oil splattering.



Very appropriate material from Spotlight and sooo cute.

I love post

I have been waiting for this dress to arrive, checking my postbox everyday even though postage was going to take between 2-3 weeks, and it arrived today!

I bought it from Libertines on eBay, she has so many nice dresses but unfortunately I always miss out due to the time difference, but this was a buy now dress and a great price.

The only problem being that I have to stand up very straight due to the 60's shape of the bust. Now I have found a practical use for my yoga classes, I knew I was doing it for some reason.

Dinner planning

I've decided to plan our dinners for the week. I tried this a few months ago with no success but this time I think I'll stick to it.



So this morning I've been looking through some old cooking books and magazines and my menu plan is all worked out. Now I'm off to the shop with little A to buy all the ingredients that won't go off by the time I get to cook them.

Monday: Broccoli and ricotta cannelloni with salad
Tuesday: Vegetable moussaka
Wednesday: Salmon with quinoa tabbouleh
Thursday: Pea and feta fritters with cous cous
Friday: French lentils with roast beetroot, pumpkin and goats cheese

Top: Genki
Cardigan: Savers
Skirt: Peta Pledger
Shoes: Rubi Shoes

3 stages of dress

The weather is once again freaky! From sunny and warm, to windy and cool, to rainy, windy and freezing.



My 3 stages of dress or undress, whatever the weather dictates.

Top: opshop (can't remember)
Skirt: Zara
Scarf: Kinki Gerlinki
Jacket: Siricco
Shoes: Rubi Shoes

Battling the elements

The weather in Melbourne has changed so dramatically that it snowed in the alps, snowed! And it is spring. It wasn't quite that cold in Melbourne City but cold enough to wonder why I decided to go outside.

I went to check out a clothing sale and on the way home just had to pop into one of my favourite shops Kleins Perfumery, They stock a huge selection of perfumes, lotions, soaps, serums, everything that would look lovely in a bathroom or boudoir (if you had one of those fancy houses - which I don't - but I can pretend).



A few purchases later and I was back on a tram and home to the warmth.



This roll-on perfume (Lychee Flower) by MOR is lovely and the packaging is just so cute but my favourite is these bon bons by Les Anis de Flavigny in violet, at first I thought they were OK, but the more I eat them the more I love them and want to get to the little bud of aniseed in the centre.

So with all the heaters on in the house, I am just about to sit down to dinner and maybe have a martini or two...just to warm up the body, of course.

New scarf, rainy weather

I bought a new scarf from Shag yesterday while taking my daughter for a walk along Brunswick Street and a visit to a cafe (which she loves). I must say it was between a scarf that had horses on it or this one with butterflies. Leaving it up to my daughter to make the decision she chose the butterfly scarf of course.



Unfortunately it is so silky it is hard to use in the hair without bobby pins but with the weather being so humid my hair tends to frizz and the scarf keeps it tamed.



It needs a good iron but that can wait until tomorrow.

In The Heyday: giveaway

In The Heyday is giving away a wonderfully flirty, summery, wrap dress because they have reached 100 followers!


Image of Fleur de Guerre from Diary of a Vintage Girl

To win this piece of heaven click on the link below and cross your fingers and toes.

In The Heyday give away

Check out her other clothes while there as they are just beautiful...and made in New Zealand!

Sunny colours, rainy days

Spring seems to have left us again, more grey skies and rain to come, which is a great shame as I have some wonderful summer dresses I would love to wear...NOW!

I suffered the cold for a little while this morning and put on a new dress I purchased from Etsy shop Secondhand Addiction (I felt like being bright and colourful). This dress is a great fit and even though it is probably from the 80's I love it's vintage feel.

The belt I bought from an amazing vintage shop in Melbourne called Vintage Garage, I popped along to check it out after reading Andi B. Goode's blog and she was right, this place is huge! You know sometimes when you enter a shop and you see so many things you want to look at you become a little catatonic??? No? Oh well, this does happen to me on the vary rare occasion but I just didn't know where to look first. Concession after concession of amazing clothes and accessories. I also bought a lovely dress which I'll wear when the weather gets a little warmer.

Please sun come out again.