Novelty Brooch Friday - December winner

It's coming to the end of the year already, Christmas is only a couple of weeks away and the holidays! aahhhh the holidays.  I have 2 whole weeks off - yippee!!! I hope you have some time with your friends and family as well.

Thank you for another great, albeit short December Novelty Brooch Friday. This months brooch was so kindly donated by Alison of My Red Scooter! (Instagram @my_red_scooter)

It gives us great pleasure to announce that the winner of the beautiful enamel flower brooch is.....

@turquoiseshoes!!! This fantastic brooch was randomly selected, CONGRATULATIONS!!

Please email Erin with your postal address and she'll send you your prize hopefully in time for a Christmas delivery. eaenglish (at) gmail (dot) com

Keep your eyes peeled for some amazing brooch giveaways in 2014! If you're a brooch maker/ designer or vintage seller that would like to donate a beautiful brooch to our giveaway and have your shop featured, please email me with a little info about your designs, shop or otherwise and we'll get you a spot on the calendar. tunabake@hotmail.com

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and look forward to discovering more brooch gems both vintage and handmade in 2014.

xx

Novelty Brooch Friday - December

This December Novelty Brooch Friday is close to Erin’s heart. If you're a regular reader of her blog, you will know just how much she loves where she lives; the Blue Mountains, as well as her passion for supporting local and independent businesses and ideas. So, it should come as no surprise that Erin is excited to be able to offer this stunning enamel brooch designed by local, and well known jewellery designer/maker, Alison of My RedScooter.

Below are 5 questions Erin asked Alison, to give us a bit more background to her label, her inspirations and loves.

How long has My Red Scooter been around for?

My Red Scooter started back in 2007. Like many, it was just something to do when at home with small children but quickly became more than a hobby. In recent times, I have decided to focus purely on women's accessories, more specifically vintage inspired necklaces, bracelets and rings handmade from gorgeous coloured resin.

 As a Mum of three, how do you manage to make time to get creative and crafty with MRS?

It is very difficult. I will admit that I am the first to let the housework slip and allow the folding build up in the interests of my business. Coffee, coffee and lots more coffee and I am a night owl so this helps me a lot. I do wish that I had more time during the day as I would be more productive. My list of crafty projects outside of My Red Scooter is very long and I hope to be able to spend some time just creating things "just because" over the Christmas break.

Do you see a resurgence in local and handmade shopping in your area? If so, it must be wonderful to be a part of that community.

Absolutely, this is wonderful for small, independent businesses. Certainly after the recent bushfires that devastated the Blue Mountains, many are more willing than ever to support small local designers. We are lucky to live in such a close knit and supportive community.

What are you most inspired by?

COLOUR! We are all guilty of wearing far too much black these days. I also love vintage lace, linen and fabric, enamel, chandelier crystals and old china. The simplicity of yesteryear inspires me to create comfortable, classic and affordable pieces. These days, life is busy, we are surrounded by too much stuff, technology and decisions. Accessorising should be easy, a collection of timeless pieces that you can wear with anything. You don't need to dress up to wear my pieces!

It must be a kick to see people walking around wearing your creations. What is the most rewarding aspect of your business?

Yes, I do smile when I see others wearing my pieces. It is very uplifting to know that others like what I do and wear my pieces year after year. One of the most rewarding things is seeing many a customer wearing my pieces for years not just a season.

To find out more about My Red Scooter: Facebook: facebook.com/myredscooter, Instagram: @my_red_scooter, website: myredscooter.com.au (It is currently being re-vamped and should be live soon).

So for your chance to win this cute brooch just post a picture of yourself on Instagram with your favourite brooch, entries can be submitted on Friday from now up to and including Friday 13th December with the hash tag #noveltybroochfriday. December is slightly different as we want to get this brooch to you before Christmas - what a gift! We will announce the winner (randomly chosen) on Monday 16th December. Open to everyone, you can enter as many times as you like, either new or vintage brooches.

Erin and I aim to showcase those sellers of vintage brooches and designers of brooches we admire and love to wear ourselves.

*If you are a designer or sell vintage brooches (worldwide) and wish to donate a brooch for an upcoming month and have your shop showcased, please contact me at tunabake@hotmail.com

Novelty Brooch Friday - November winner

How many? How many entries in November?

364!! 

This month we had a very cute vintage brooch kindly donated by Teresa from Bess Georgette for you to win. Thank you Teresa.

Thank you everyone for your entries and enjoying a bit of fun on a Friday and hey, the bonus of winning a cute brooch to add to your (i'm sure) ever increasing collections.

Selected by Random.org, November's winner is:

  

Laurie (Retroreporter) congratulations!! If you could email me your postal address, your cute fawn brooch will be forwarded to you shortly (tunabake@hotmail.com).

In the month of December we will be having a shorter time to enter so hopefully we can get your brooch to you before Christmas. Stay tuned this week for the brooch and the creator.

Thank you again everyone for entering and see you on Friday.

xx

Tunabake Turban Times

I know there are a lot of tutorials out there offering a step-by-step on how to tie a scarf but I found them a little confusing so just messed around and worked it out best for me. Maybe this small tutorial will give you the confidence to give it a go.

I tend to wear a scarf in a turban-style if I'm:

1. Having a bad hair day

2. Going out and want to do something different

You will need a large scarf, 80cm x 80cm is a good size for my big head and 2 strong bobby pins to hold the scarf in place (I'm a little paranoid it's going to fall off and I have been known to make a turban a little too high that I couldn't sit up straight in the car).

Fold the scarf in a triangle and place the long fold-side at the nape of your neck - all ghostly like.

Bring the 2 long sides to the front with the shorter still hanging down in front of your face.

Tie in a knot over the top and at the crown of your head securely.

Now bring the shorter side back over your head so you can now see.

And tie the long sides over the top of the shorter side.

Then to hide the long ends tuck them under the knot or just do a double knot and tuck the ends in, it's really up to you.

Secure in place with the bobby pins and you have yourself a simple style you can adapt depending on the size and shape of your scarf.  It is a little trickier with large rectangle scarves but It's fun to make them bigger and change the shape of the turban.

See it's not hard and the effect is a lot of fun.
xx

Novelty Brooch Friday - November

Novelty Brooch Friday is in it's 6 month! Happy half birthday to my partner in brooches, Erin x

This month we have another vintage seller of brooches, but not just brooches, other carefully selected vintage items. 

November's Novelty Brooch Friday giveaway is brought to you by Teresa of Bess Georgette, a wonderful lady who runs the sweetest of online shops and who I had the pleasure of meeting earlier in the year, I think she is the coolest gal.

Teresa has answered 5 questions we hope give you a little insight into her shop, her love of vintage and the brooch she has chosen to give away to one lucky entry.

Can you tell us a little bit about your online shop Bess Georgette and how you chose the name?

Bess Georgette offers vintage-loving ladies a place where they can not only find a beautiful frock but a range of vintage clothing, accessories and homewares. With a focus on items from the mid-century, my specialty is Australian vintage, which I also love to share my research into over on my blog.

The name ‘Bess Georgette’ was created by me with a little word play. I drew up a list of all my favourite vintage names, paired them together and ‘Bess Georgette’ was the one that rang true. 

When did you first become interested in vintage clothing, accessories and homewares?

When I was little I wore quite a few pieces of clothing that once belonged to my mother, including her blue 1960s Sunday school dress. I was eight years old at the time though so the idea of ‘vintage' hadn’t really struck me! 

I think my first real interest in vintage began during my later school days when a vintage store opened up in my old hometown, Canberra. I use to spend quite a few ‘free’ school periods sitting in there talking to the owners and I was quite proud of my thrifted 1970s corduroy flares. Which, funnily, were also blue!

Do you have a favourite item of clothing that you have discovered on your search for items for your shop?

It’s okay to have too many favourites… right? But… if I had to name one it would have to be a 1970s Prue Acton (a highly successful and collectable Australian designer) strapless gown. It hasn't made its way into the shop yet though as I am currently hoarding it.

What favourite labels or makers do you look for when shopping for yourself?

Again with the favourites!  ;)

I do have a soft spot for 1950s and 60s Swirl dresses (just like Claire who I think has snaffled nearly all of them up!*) but when it comes to shopping for myself I love what I love, regardless of the label. The only key is that it has to suit me!

Can you tell us a bit about the brooch you are offering to giveaway this month for Novelty Brooch Friday?

I found this little deer at the bottom of a pile of vintage bric-a-brac. Its little glistening green eye winked up at me and I’ve been enamoured with it ever since. I however, am not a gold-coloured jewellery wearer so I thought it was time for it to start a journey with a new owner, who will take it out and show it the sights. Be it here in Australia or overseas!

*Now for the record I would like to point out that I haven't snaffled all the Swirl dresses, there are always more out there to grace my small wardrobe Miss Teresa :)

So for your chance to win this cute brooch just post a picture of yourself on Instagram with your favourite brooch, entries can be submitted on any Friday from now up to  and including Friday 29th December with the hash tag #noveltybroochfriday and we will announce the winner (randomly chosen) on Monday 2^nd December. Open to everyone, you can enter as many times as you like, either new or vintage brooches.

Erin and I aim to showcase those sellers of vintage brooches and designers of brooches we admire and love to wear ourselves.

*If you are a designer or sell vintage brooches (worldwide) and wish to donate a brooch for an upcoming month and have your shop showcased, please contact me at tunabake@hotmail.com

Novelty Brooch Friday - October winner

October's brooch for Novelty Brooch Friday was kindly donated by Babette of Broesj Etsy shop. Her shop is one of my favourites to brows and purchase from so I was delighted when she agreed to offer one of her sweet brooches to give away. Thank you again Babette.

This month we had 288 entries!! It has been so much fun and I know I am always on the lookout at fairs, garage sales and Op shops for unusual brooches to add to my collection like so many of you who have said they love doing the same. What a great bunch of collectors from around the world.

And so the winner for October's Novelty Brooch Friday being 44 out of 288 (selected at random by Random.org) is:

Congratulations Kate!f  If you could email me at tunabake@hotmail.com with the address you would like your prize sent to that would be great.

This Friday we will be announcing November's brooch and the vintage seller - she's a swell lady who some of you might already know *wink *wink. See you Friday with your brooches on and your stories of vintage, handmade and dearly loved pieces of joy.

So until then, get brooching x

A Touch of Gold

Last Friday my work held its annual dinner and the theme was 'A touch of gold'.  I was going to wear a gold and black 1960's brocade dress but when I saw this 1940's blue lace dress I couldn't resist.

Then it was just a matter of finding some gold accessories to match the dress and theme. I had this great goldtone 1960's charm bracelet that I hadn't worn due to it sounding like jingle bells but love.  I then found a gold headpiece at a high street shop that was perfect and very cheap which then tied into the ring I chose which has a leaf motif.

My current obsession with hoop earrings was an obvious choice and then....false eyelashes (I hadn't worn falsies since my University days) and some gold pigment for eye shadow.  Now I don't wear too much makeup normally so I was freaking out my daughter, or maybe freaking isn't the word, more like amusing her.

Standby for the glamour shot, channeling Phryne Fisher.

I was enjoying my night too much to remember to take any photos so the only one that was taken was on the dance floor (yes I did get up to have a dance, after copious glasses of champagne I am game for most things)

Oh and I did wear my fake fur jacket that I have been dying to wear woohoo! I love it. 

And then home in a taxi, yes this is a taxi not a police car as it might seem - I didn't drink THAT much to become a delinquent, just enough to have a good time and arrive home after midnight! Gasp!

I love dressing up and never get the chance, someone invite me to a fancy party please so I can plan my next outfit x

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

Novelty Brooch Friday - October

I am so excited about this months brooch and seller.  Broesj is an Etsy shop I have looked at many times - oh you know a couple of times a month, and have bought a few brooches myself. Yep all three on my beret!

Babette is the owner of this fantastic shop and was so lovely in agreeing to offer one of her brooches as this months giveaway. Babette has answered 5 questions that, I think, give a little insight into her interest in brooches, the development of her shop and her favourite makers...and she loves Lea Stein's brooches just like I do and I know a lot of you do as well.

How did you come up with the name of your shop 'Broesj'? 

I'm Dutch. In the Netherlands we call a brooch 'broche', which is pronounced 'brosj'. While I was fantasizing about starting my own Etsy shop I came up with the name 'broesj'.

It has something from 'broche' in it and sounds a bit like 'babushka' (the mistaken name for the Russian dolls (they are called Matryoshka pop. A babushka is a headscarf). It also connects a bit to my name, which is Babette. The best thing about the name is that people will call brooches a broesj. So they ask me 'do you have any broesjes?' I love that!

When did your interest in brooches begin? 

My interest in brooches began at an early age. I accompanied my mum to flea markets. While she was looking for little treasuries I found out that it was a great place to search for unique fashion items ánd accessories. Searching for earrings I also came across brooches. Quickly my collection started to grow.

When did you turn your interest into your shop Broesj on Etsy?

In the Netherlands on Queens Day it's a tradition to visit flea markets. They are being held in every city and start very early. Every year me and my mom will go on the hunt for vintage treasures.

On one of these days we came across a mega large bucket filled with brooches. Since I'm very indecisive I was hovering around the bucket a while. The salesman asked if I would like to buy the whole lot. And I did.

When it was getting a bit slower in my job as an independent graphic designer I thought about my brooches again. I started designing a card. And then I thought: why not try to sell some of those on Etsy? Since I had some doubles I could try and say goodbye to some of them. That was in November 2011 and the start of my Etsy shop.

Do you have a favorite maker of jewellery/brooches?

One of my favorite brooch-makers is Lea Stein. She designs some of the craziest modern looking brooches with a magnificent material. The brooches are also quite large and recognizable.

What do you think it is about brooches that people love?

With brooches people can carry out a message without saying something. Since there are so many brooches in all kinds of forms and shapes, every day they can choose what they want to say or find a brooches that accompanies their mood. Look at Madeleine Allbright for example. Through her brooches she carried out a very strong message in politics.

So this ladies and gentlemen (I'm sure we have a few out there) is the novelty brooch you could win this month from Broesj - gaaaahhhh isn't it so cute!

So for your chance to win this cute brooch just post a picture of yourself on Instagram with your favourite brooch, entries can be submitted on any Friday from now up to  and including Friday 25th October with the hash tag #noveltybroochfriday and we will announce the winner (randomly chosen) on Monday 28th October. Open to everyone, you can enter as many times as you like, either new or vintage brooches.

Each month Erin and I will take it in turns to showcase those sellers of vintage brooches and designers we admire and love to wear ourselves.

*If you are a designer or sell vintage brooches (worldwide) and wish to donate a brooch for an upcoming month and have your shop showcased, please contact me at tunabake@hotmail.com

Easy-peasy snacky recipe

A little while ago on Instagram I posted a picture of Vegemite and cheese scrolls and I had a few people ask for the recipe. I make them for a quick snack or if Amelie has a playdate, they are good to whip up and she loves them.

So today I finally got around to taking some step-by-step photos - it really is the easiest to make.

Step 1: Take a sheet of puff pastry out of the freezer and defrost for a couple of minutes.

Step 2: Grate some cheddar cheese while you are waiting - a handful (how very Jamie Oliver of me)

Step 3: Now Vegemite isn't to everyone's taste so you could use Marmite but you need something with a bit of tang,  and we only had Vegemite in the cupboard so that is what I used.

Step 4: Spread a thin layer of Vegemite over the defrosted puff pastry and scatter the grated cheese over the top.

Step 5: Roll the pastry like a Swiss roll or sushi roll, trying to keep it quite tight.

Step 6: Once rolled cut (with the end of the pastry on the bottom to seal when cutting).  Cut into about 2cm sections.

Step 7: Place on a greased tray (I use canola spray) on their side and brush with some beaten egg to glaze and pop in a moderate oven for about 20 minutes (times might vary as my oven is rubbish but take them out when they are lightly golden).

Step 8: They come out like this, all puffed up but I like to flip them over...

Step 9: 'Cause I think they look prettier, just let them cool and eat.

If you do make them let me know how you go and remember, they are a sometimes food (puff pastry has quite a bit of fat in it) ^U^