From Where I Stand.. January

I decided in the last few days of December that I wanted a fun little challenge for myself this year.  Something I could do every day that was fast, easy and would give me a lovely reminder of each day 2012.  I contemplated quite a few different ideas that included, writing, artwork and photography but everything seemed too complicated, expensive or too easy to give up on. So I chose something that was fail proof for me... A daily photo of my shoes. Why would it work for me.. It's simple, I love shoes and very rarely wear the same pair two days in a row. It's been so fun already to look back over the month and check out what I've been up.  I can't wait to see how the year progresses.  Here's where I stood in January...

And my favourite..

From the 10th of January when I was in the front garden setting up photos for my perfect picnic.

Have you or are you doing a project for the year.. I'd love to hear about yours!

xxx

Summer Reading.. *bespoke* zine

Well it is officially the last day of my summer holidays and I'm embracing every last moment with some lovely reading material including *bespoke* zine.  I was so excited to finally get my hands on a copy of this delightful little Australian publication which is filled with lovely articles, super interesting people and fabulous creative things to make and do! And how gorgeous is the cover artwork by Jo Dyer. Here are a few of my favourite pages from Issue 5..

Emma Dalzell's gorgeous graphic artwork instantly leaps off the page as soon as you open the cover, along with a lovely feature which gives is an interesting insight into the talented artist's work and inspiration.

Of course I just love Bess Georgette's fabulous article about wearing vintage clothing.  Her wonderful tips are perfect for anyone interested in injecting a little vintage love into their wardrobe. 

*bespoke* also features an inspiring article about the power of collaborations, featuring an eclectic group of talented, like minded creative women.  One of my favourite collaborations is The Lemon Spaghetti Dress, created by the talented super team of Dawn, Michelle and Cindy.  

*bespoke* zine is such a wonderful, inspiring read, it's the perfect handbag size creative companion for your everyday adventures.  You can find out more about *bespoke* and purchase a copy on their website and also check out their updates on Facebook.  I can't wait to see what the girls have in store for Issue 6!

Much Love

xxx

Imagination..

Embrace, nurture and explore your vivid imagination..

xxx

What I Wore.. My Favourite

Dress: Vintage from Retro Metro  Shoes: Rivers

Hat: Equip Sunglasses: Vintage - Foster Grant 

The weather was so lovely here on Australia Day, especially in the morning, so we decided to go down to one of our favourite spots by the river to have lunch and listen to the Hottest 100.  Rather than going the traditional colours, I thought I'd wear a little green and gold (ok so mainly green) to celebrate, so I turned to my favourite vintage dress. It's actually the first vintage dress I ever bought and is truly my old faithful, especially when I want to inject a little colour into my day. There is just something about the big collar, button detail and of course the super fun shades of 1970s green that makes me smile.  It's also really versatile, I've worn it in middle of winter with boots and a jacket and on lovely summer days like this one.  Just add big sunglasses and a floppy summer hat for a super easy picnic outfit.  

Do you have an old faithful outfit that you love to wear?

Much Love

xxx

Sunday Evening..

Weather: The perfect evening for curling up on the couch and watching a film

Reading: The lovely new issue of Country Style magazine

Writing: Making lists and planning for the week ahead

Buying: Fun rainbow shoes and little notebooks

Drinking: Lovely Lady Grey tea

Listening: Simple Song - The Shins

Enjoying: Editing today's Wilde Asher photo shoot and brainstorming ideas

Loving: Relaxing and enjoying a quiet moment before an exciting and busy week

xxx

Flea Market Finds..

Happy Sunday thrifters! I hope you are enjoying your weekend and have found some lovely second hand treats. The finds already this year have been just amazing and it's only January, I can't wait to see what treasures everyone has found this week.  Oh and be sure to check out last week's finds over here.  They are so very inspiring!

This week most of my thrifting happened during my lovely thrifting adventure on Wednesday, however I did find a few bits and pieces later in the week that made me smile. And I've got a few more of last week's finds to share too.

This lovely three piece Johnson set caught my eye and just had to join the collection.

I found these canisters on different days and just realised they are both made by the same Melbourne company.  I love Australian vintage..

A few of last weeks treasures, including fabulous retro dish, Fire King cup and saucer and a lovely winter print which is such a delight to look at in the heat of summer.

And one of my favourite finds for the week.. This 1962 Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.  

The whole binder is in such lovely condition and not only is it filled with fabulous photographs, illustrations and patterns, in amongst the pages I also found a stash of lovely hand written recipes.   It is quite the little treasure trove and I can't wait to try a few out. 

I'd love to know what you found this week.  To play along just leave a comment and add your flea market blog post link in the Linky below so we can all check out your goodies. It would be just so sweet of you to link back here from your blog too, so that others can play along.  Remember you can play any time during the week! Oh and pop over to Apron Thrift Girl for Thrift Share Monday.  Please feel free to upload your fabulous finds to the Flea Market Finds flickr pool too.   Looking forward to seeing all of your lovely thrifty pictures. If the Linky disappears, just refresh your browser.

Happy Thrifting!

Much Love

xxx

Weekend DIY - Chalkboard Handbag

The other day I thrifted a neat little brown handbag for $2.  I really liked the shape, but it was oh so boring.  So I thought I'd make it much more fun by adding some chalkboard paint.  Now I can change the look of my handbag whenever I like.  Here's how I did it..

What you'll need: A cheap bag you are happy to restyle, mine is made of vinyl.  I strongly suggest using vinyl or plastic as it takes the chalkboard paint well.  Also choose a bag that has a nice flat surface that won't crinkle. You will also need, a small pot of chalkboard paint (from the hardware store), a tube of contrasting acrylic paint, a small paint brush, a small bowl of water and a rag.  You will also need a chalk marker, I found a great range of them at the local newsagent.  

1. Be sure to find somewhere ventilated to paint your bag. Make sure your bag is nice and clean, then apply a thin coat of chalkboard paint to the area you would like to write on.  (Note: For drying times and further instructions please read the back of the pot carefully)

2. While you are waiting for the main area to dry, clean off your brush and paint any detailed areas you like with a contracting paint colour.  I chose bronze acrylic paint to highlight the area and make the bag a little more shiny. 

3.  When the chalkboard paint is touch dry (this can take a little while depending on your weather) apply another coat, making sure you have painted into all the corners and edges.

4. Wait until the chalkboard paint is completely dry before you write on it.  For best results I suggest leaving it at least overnight, otherwise the chalk marker won't be as easy to remove later on.   

5. Now that the paint is dry, you can get creative with a chalk marker.  These are so much fun! The type I used, wipes off with a damp cloth and is rain proof. They comes is a wonderful variety of colours too. Write a note, draw a picture, even jot down your shopping list.   

Ta Da! Now you have a bag you can be super creative with any time.

And now that you have a pot of chalkboard paint, you can get creative with lots of different projects, for your kitchen, office and even your cupboards! 

Happy Creating!

xxx

Happy Weekend..

Happy Saturday! I just love this print by Lucius Art, it's been making me smile all morning.  What are you up to this weekend? After a lovely morning coffee and a trip to the hardware store, I'm ready a creative afternoon working on some fun DIY projects.  I'll be back with one a little later on!  Looking for something to do this weekend? Why don't you:

Write a love letter

Dance around the living room to some fab tunes

Make flower power eggs

Wear stripes and floral together

Make a cute heart for your valentine

Crochet an odds and ends blanket

Bake a zucchini slice

Invite a lovely blogger over for dinner

Much Love

xxx

Print by Lucius Art available on Etsy

Three Photos on Friday..

Quick photo of my lunch for Fat Mum Slim's wonderful January Photo Challenge

A fabulous craftnoon at Fine and Sunny (Seems all my Friday photos include coffee!)

Summer skirts, pretty patterns and cute shoes.

Hope your Friday has been a lovely one. Join in with Angela's lovely Three Photos over here. 

xxx

Love Her Style.. Sock Monkey and Gee

This week I'm so excited to be featuring my first international guest, Megan from the gorgeous blog Sock Monkey and Gee to share a few of her style secrets.  I was instantly drawn to Megan's beautiful vintage dresses, her inspiring use of floral prints and knack for mixing eras and styles together.  And I just adore a girl who wears yellow!

 Describe your style: I would have to call it... floral obsessed granny with a twist of vintage and a dash of modern. I love all things floral and I love to mix up different pieces. I could be wearing grandma loafers from the 70's, with a skirt from the 60's, and a blouse from the 80's.

What and who inspires your style? Everything inspires me. My closet, the weather/nature, people on the street, pinterest/tumblr, art/music, and especially bloggers. (I have a HUGE blogroll of favorites ..but to name a few.. Shades of Monet,  Here's Looking at me Kid, Emmadime and Scathingly Brilliant) 

Has your style changed over the years?  Yes. I have always been different when it comes to clothing. In high school I liked to wear funky colors and prints all the time.  A typical outfit would have been leopard shoes, hot pink pants, and a aqua striped blouse. Then in college I was drawn to the hippie/70s style. Now, I am more drawn to 1950's and 60's dresses and some days when I am feeling blah, I just enjoy wearing the simple black/white/grey look.  The older I get the more I feel I should invest in classic pieces.  

Where do you like shopping for clothes and accessories? I love thrift stores and Etsy the most. You can find anything and everything at both places. I also love supporting small businesses and shop at vintage stores quite often. When I want the basics (classic blouse/shirts, cardigans, and jeans) I enjoy Gap. When I can afford it, I love Modcloth. I have a huge wishlist..I drool over all their dresses. 

What’s your favourite second hand fashion find? It would defiantly be my favorite yellow floral dress. I love that dress SO much. If I could, I would wear it everyday. I purchased it from one of my favorite etsy shops, Croatia Vintage. 

What’s your all time favourite item in your wardrobe? A black and white lace dress that my mother had made for her when she was in Paris in the early 1990's. The dress no longer fits her, so she passed it down to  me.  It is so elegant and beautiful.. I just want to hang it up on my wall. 

Three words that sum up your style: fun, vintage, comfortable

~~~

Check out more of Megan's style over at her blog and be sure to also check out her lovely Etsy shop.  I've got my eye a few pretty dresses and these adorable shoes.

xxx

What Makes Love True..

Just had to share this gorgeous little film with you to start this lovely Friday morning. It made me smile, giggle and even shed a tear.. Thank you Mr. Scott Schuman.

Much Love

xxx

Film via The Satorialist

Things I Love Thursday..

Things I love.. Enjoying a wonderfully relaxing Australia Day and finding fun ways to stay cool in the backyard.  I'm also loving.. These amazing vintage glasses, this great post about colour, these sweet T-strap flats, this fab DIY,  this gorgeous shop re-opening, these beautiful and unique wedding, and this super fun 1950s storage unit from this wonderfully colourful post.

What are you loving today?

xxx

Live in the Sunshine..

Happy Australia Day my lovely local friends! Or as my family likes to call it, Hottest 100 day. To me Australia Day is all about enjoying the last moments of summer holidays, spending time with friends and listening to some wonderful music.  What are your plans for Australia Day? We are off to enjoy some the morning in the sunshine by the river before enjoying a BBQ in the backyard and listening to the countdown.

Wishing you a lovely day, what ever you are up to!

Much Love

xxx

  

Beautiful print by Katie Davis from The Wheatfield available on Etsy 

Midweek Thrifting..

By about Wednesday each week, I begin to wonder if the thrifting fairies have delivered any new delights to the local thrift shops.  This afternoon It thought I'd take a quick fossick around and I'm so delighted I did. 

Some pretty Johnson love.. and a of couple new to me patterns

This lovely little reminder..

A fabulously retro sugar bowl

And my find of the day.. A gorgeous 1970s maxi dress with bell bottom sleeves

This week I've also been working on some very exciting bits and pieces for the blog, for Wilde Asher and a little side project I can't wait to tell you more about very soon.   

Hope you are having a great thrifting week too!

xxx  

Making Me Smile.. Raspberry and Lemon

Emily Chalmer's ever inspiring use of colour (and the gorgeous letter that Holly wrote to Emily)

Kendi's perfectly paired outfit and especially gorgeous shoes

These gorgeous illustrations by Anne Hurley

And of course.. delightful raspberry and lemon cupcakes

What's making you smile today?

xxx

Click on links for original image sources

Perfect For.. A Summer Afternoon

1. Perch Things First Dress 2. Peach Sangria  3. Ballet Flats in Peach Sparkle

A sweet peach dress, some glittery ballet flats and a peach sangria.. Just add delightful company and you have everything you need for the perfect summer afternoon happy hour at sunset.

xxx

Click on links for original image sources

This Little Notebook..

If you have been reading my ramblings for a little while you'll know all too well, I love stationery.  I always say to my students that I became both a writer and a teacher, so I could buy and use delightful notebooks.  Ok, so perhaps that's not entirely true, but when I was about ten, I did begin writing scribbles and musings because I realised I had to start using my notebooks for something.  It was a few years later that I first watched Harriet the Spy.. and fell in love with her wonderful composition notebook. I looked everywhere for one, but it seemed that Australian newsagents didn't like these lovely notebooks like I did.   My search continued ever since... and I have never found one in Australia. Over the years, the composition notebook has become somehow mythical. There is just something about the fabric binding, rounded edges and iconic black and white cover that spoke to me.  That somehow my words would flow more freely, perhaps be more beautiful on these pages.  

So you can imagine my surprise when I was at Officeworks this morning, buying bubble wrap and checking out Renee Anne's gorgeous stationery designs, when I stumbled across not one but two black and white composition notebooks in a box of assorted crazy colours. My childhood dreams have come true! 

And now I suppose the writing begins.. I always wanted to follow Natalie Goldberg's advice and fill one of these a month.  I'm not sure what I'll be writing about but with these magical little notebooks, anything is possible.

If you are now feeling in the mood for a little Harriet the Spy.. I stumbled across it over here.  You can also see these notebooks in action in one of my other favourite films, Stealing Beauty.

Much Love

xxx 

Let the Beauty..

So simple and so true..

I also just wanted to say a big hello to all the lovely new faces I've seen popping by over the past few the weeks. And a big thank you to all of you, for your beautiful comments and emails, they always make my day! Thank you for inspiring me to do what I love..

Much Love

xxx

What I Wore.. Market Day

Top: Cotton On    Skirt: Vintage (Borrowed from Kelly)

Belt: Thrifted  Shoes: Rivers  Brooch: Vintage

Headband: H &M  Tote Bag: The Met Bookshop

  Sunglasses: Vintage - Foster Grant

I just love Saturday market days..It's the perfect start to the weekend, especially when there is good coffee and lovely company.  And what does one wear to a market, a lovely pleated skirt of course. This gorgeous  skirt belongs to Kelly from Elegantly Academic.  She has such a fabulous wardrobe and I'm very excited to be doing a little style swapping with her and some other lovely fashion bloggers.  Kelly paired it up here with a sweet mustard cardigan, which is how I love to wear navy too. But for a summer Saturday I thought I'd take a different spin on the classic polka dots and pair it a punchy orange top and tied it together with a headband which is actually the belt to this dress.  It seems I have a bunch of dresses with these fabric belts and I'm loving them as a nice alternative to wearing a scarf.  I'm sending Kelly a few pieces from my wardrobe this week and I can't wait to see how she styles them.  

Do you wear navy? I'd love to know what colours you pair it with.

Happy Monday!

Much Love

xxx