I'm addicted to Instagram

It's true, I have been unfaithful and have spent many nights in the warm embrace of Instagram.



But when you don't have a digital camera with a timer you're forced to find other avenues to capture dresses and other interesting images.

Mr Ed and I are however planning on buying a joint Christmas present this year - a digital SLR.....very HAPPY!



So if you are on Instagram pop by: tunabake

It's a southern hemisphere spring sale!

I have been going through my wardrobe and my overflow wardrobe in Little Miss A's room and have started selecting dresses I haven't worn for a long time.

I've decided to sell them on Etsy for, in most cases a lot less than I bought them for.

Take a look and see if there is anything you like.
Tunabake Etsy Shop

Embroider my world

Well I have come back to post and it took a while, the camera broke and so I have been thinking whether it was worth posting with photos from my iPhone, what is the point of this blog? (I have a very short attention span) and getting the time to post.

But hey! I am back because I have really enjoyed the correspondence from other bloggers, really lovely people, that enjoy vintage clothes, the history and the dresses, aaah the dresses, I don't want to count my growing collection. I don't claim to be an expert but I just love vintage dresses and the history that comes with a piece of clothing that has been pre-loved and is now in my precious hands to enjoy and wear with a certain sense of style? hmmm that is questionable.



So while I have been away I have been accumulating a few more precious items and thankfully the weather has been looking up - out come the summer dresses and pasty, white, freckly legs.



This little beauty I purchased from Blythehopesvintage I just couldn't pass up these amazing pockets and their embroidery, I took the hem down to its original length and it is one of my favourite dresses.


Excuse the smudges on the mirror, Little Miss A can't resist placing her hands all over them and I can't be bothered keeping up with her busy hands.



Dress: Blythehopesvintage
Cardigan: Tempt
Belt: another dress
Brooch: gift

Up the Junction

I like to collect 1960's kitchen sink novels and films if I can get my hands on them (it is a lot easier in the UK).

I think I have mentioned before that I love these stories, they might be depressing to some but to me it was a great era of literature and cinema that was a change from the portrayal of unrealistic lives people had no connection to.

This is one of my favourite covers and inside illustrations: Up the Junction.





The film isn't as gritty as others of the genre but still an interesting portrayal of a wealthy girl who wants to live 'like the other half' on the other side of the Thames in Battersea.


image sourced from Sir Lord Thomas blog

I'll post about others in my collection soon, I don't have many but I'm always on the look out.

P.S. I have been out of action for a while on the blog front. Life has been pretty busy lately and last week I had a tooth out!! AArrrrr the thought of it makes my arms go wobbly, and now on top of that I have a cold, lets hope life returns to health and relative harmony...I haven't stopped purchasing dresses so I'll post soon about them.

I hope those of you who stop by and read my blog are well.

9 year anniversary

Yesterday 27th July, was our wedding anniversary - 9 years. After work we had a friend babysit for us and we walked just around the corner to a lovely restaurant called 'Nextdoor'.

It was a great opportunity to wear my new dress I bought from Gorman in the sales. It is a summer dress but with a bit of black accessorising it didn't look too bad.





These clogs have given me blisters every time I have worn them but this time I had a good, thick pair of tights.



This lovely bag from Mimco was a birthday present from my parents. Now when I looked at my present I thought to myself, when do I go out at night to warrant such a lovely bag? But HEY! I used it within a month!



And here is my lovely husband who has put up with me for 14 years, 9 of them officially by law. A wonderful man who makes me laugh, have fun and good conversation, adventures and hope in my life. I love you x

Naaahh it didn't last

I couldn't deal with more hair on one side of my head than the other. Asymmetry just isn't something I am comfortable with at the moment.

Back from holiday

I went on holiday to Queensland to visit my parents and brother (who was also visiting from Dubai) last week. The weather was a glorious 21 degrees and sunny everyday.



On our return to Melbourne it was raining and 10 degrees and has not changed all week. I wouldn't say it was a relaxing holiday, especially with a 2 and a half year old but Mr Ed and I managed to get away twice for a coffee and see friends.

Oh and this lovely little cup is just so cute with its little umbrella lid and tea infuser. Many cups of liquorice tea have been consumed today.



A slight change in hair style, it is going to take a while to grow out my fringe but I need a change. I seem to attempt a change in hair styles every couple of years and then revert back to my old trusty fringe and bob. We'll see how long it lasts.



Tea cup: Otogicco

It was my Birthday on Saturday

It started out a little early on Friday night when I met with a friend after work who was visiting from Perth - a lovely dinner at Cumulus Inc and a few glasses of wine.

In the morning we went to Heidi, a gallery and house in Heidelberg (15 min drive from Melbourne). The house and the gallery have a long documented history in Australian literature and art, at first as a home to John and Sunday Reed in the 30's and then later commissioning a gallery on the property in the 60's.



Showing a few exhibitions that we didn't know much about until we got there, Little Miss A showed an unexpected interest in the paintings and liked picking out the images she recognised.



We walked around the grounds, the kitchen gardens and sculpture garden and then had lunch in the cafe (sadly underwhelming). But the sun was out and the air was crisp and I spent the day with my little family.



I also got a lovely new edition to my jewellery collection, a little silver fox ring by Victoria Mason from Mr Ed, so lovely.



And Mr Ed also made me a delicious beetroot chocolate cake - I'm still enjoying it.

I'm a lucky girl.

altered states

I recently had my dress taken up to its original length, the previous owner had obviously had the hem taken down but it was pretty obvious. So I asked Karlee from The Golden Age to alter it and make a slip - it's winter and all my dresses work there way up my legs when I wear tights. The best slip I have ever worn!



This is another hand made vintage dress I bought a few months ago at Vintage Garage. The colours (even though the black fabric has faded a little) are lovely together and make the red flowers really stand out.



And finally our little lemon tree is baring fruit, I think it is martini time!



Dress: Vintage Garage (altered by Karlee at The Golden Age)
Cardigan: Temt
Shoes: Kmart
Belt: from another dress
Brooch: a gift from my brother

From our garden

Today was the last day Little Miss A's playgroup leader was working at the centre, so as a little thank you Little Miss A and I picked some lavender and rosemary from our front garden.

The smell was amazing and I think she really appreciated the fact that Little Miss A helped pick them. I think herbs are sometimes a nicer picked flower or foliage than normal flowers.

I love moss stitch

I see my friend in a week and I still have a long way to go before I finish the hot water bottle cover for her.



Still, it has got me back into the swing of knitting and remembering how to purl and cast on and make mistakes, it is all part of the fun.



Next challenge...an item of clothing?

Casual day

Today I've gone for swim and a sauna, went to my favourite Op shop and bought an armful of books for Little Miss A (I was lucky again this week), found a nice pair of wool crepe black trousers for me for $7, drove to the supermarket and bought ingredients for dinner tonight (olive and pea quiche) then back home to cook dinner then out again to pick up Little Miss A from Playgroup.






So today as it is so windy I thought I'd wear a pair of jeans! Ooooohh *gasp* Yes jeans. It has been busy but I've made the most of my last non-working Monday.

I will tell you one funny thing I saw at the pool today. A mum was in up to her waist (with swimmers on) but stood there cross-armed and was wearing a black, leather jacket. My neighbourhood is a little strange. Then I shared the sauna with a group of old Greek women with flannels on their heads...I've had a good day, I hope you have too.

Top: Sportsgirl
Jacket: Monkhouse
Jeans: Country Road
Shoes: K-Mart
Brooch: Peta Pledger

PS Got my hair cut on the weekend, I feel so much better ^U^

Chicken scratchings

I recently received this wonderful dress in the post from Entwife's shop on Etsy. I have been looking for a gingham dress with this wonderful "chicken scratch" embroidery for awhile and couldn't believe that I found one in my size, handmade and in such wonderful condition.

You can go here to find out a little more about chicken scratch embroidery and its origins.



My digital camera was out of battery at the time of Little Miss A's nap so I clicked away on my iPhone. These were all filtered through the free Instagram app, it's brilliant if you remember polaroid photos and the lovely effects they had.



Dress: Entwife
Cardigan: Gorman
Belt: from another dress

grey days are coming

Today Little Miss A and I went to IKEA to keep out of the cold and find a few bits and pieces.

As usual I managed to buy more than I planned to: little plastic cups, new cutlery for Little Miss A, bedding, butchers paper to draw on, the list goes on...but it was fun walking around and relaxing in the cafe afterwards with a pastry trying not to think of work tomorrow.



I have been working 2 days a week since February but now due to some changes, people leaving etc I have been asked to work 3 days. This offer forced my hand into working more days and really there was no excuse for me not to other than I'm lazy and was enjoying a day to myself.

More money is always a good thing and in no time I'm sure I'll be back at work full-time (when Little Miss A goes to school).



It is good to get out of the house, learn new things, meet new people and find another place that gives you rewards in other ways.



Dress: vintage
Cardigan: cheap shop in local mall
Shoes: Lost and Found
Tights: KMart