Bonne Annee 2012

Resolution No. 1: When kitchen is messy kick of your heels, grab the streamers, don a party hat and pretend its new years all. over. again.

Fleamarket Finds The Lace Collection

This market it's going to be all about the Lace, I adore this two piece, the lovely opshop lady had barely put it on the hanger and I had it in my hands! just gorgeous and the navy I found that whilst under strict instruction from RC for a five minute dash into the oppie, its amazing how much you can actually get in five minutes do you think you develop opshop superpowers over the years for scanning racks, for such occassions?
for more opshopping adventures head on over to Sophies

Girl Time

RC is our inhouse movie critic, she advises of all upcoming movies and seeks out their trailers so we can see the best on the big screen. Last night RC and I went to see the advanced screening of The Help and it was brilliant, we laughed, we cried and we discussed what a different world it was only 50 years ago. I love the fact that my soon to be 16 year old can appreciate this story.

Lets Get Shabby

This month TallulahBelles is sponsoring the challenge with the Lets Get Shabby girls and what a fabulous challenge it is ....

To enter you need to visit the Tallulahbelles Etsy Shop

1. Choose your product image from the items for SALE or in the SOLD section.

2. Save the image to your computer along with the link

3. Create a project inspired by this image

Then on your blog

1. Paste the image along with the link

2. Upload your project

3. Give a few words why it worked for you

and you could win $50.00 to spend in store on whatever you wish
now thats A LOT of doilies ....



For some gorgeous inspiration you can visit the Lets Get Shabby blog to see what the design team created
Those girls, they definately rock the pretty stuff!

Eighties Prom Frocks

Getting ready for market. I love eighties prom dresses, love the taffeta and the tulle underlays, the sequins and the bows - here are some of my favourites.

Keepsakes

My new favourite book, by Frances Hansen, I knew it was going to be fabulous when I discovered each section titled with glass glitter letters. This book is just special, its a scrapbook full of the nostalgic charm of yesteryear, a recipe book full of old favourites, snippets scattered amongst the pages, and a collage that reveals something new upon each glance. Just perfect for vintage loving girls like us, definately a MUST HAVE!

Shop Update

Mini Art Journal Kits includes a vintage mini journal and some papercrafting glam. This one is called Betty Loves to Bingo and includes a fancy 1930s bingo card.




















Pocketful of Whimsies are back in the shop. Yay! I love making pockets, this one is called Coronation.

some butterflies cut from vintage wallpaper and vintage doilies



and my favourite the Naughty Secretary Art Kit

Artistically Decorated By The Girlfriends Of The Bride

My mother's cousin is a geneology buff which is just fabulous for us because she uncovers gems like this, the article in the social pages of my Grandmother's wedding in 1928. Such detail, I love it, totally divine, love the wording and the insight into the wardrobe changes my grandmother made, we have the photos but they are not in colour so for a girl who loves details this is just so perfect.

The article was found on TROVE which is an Australian OnLine Resource website where you can type in your relatives names and see if there are any articles what fun!

Artistically decorated by girl friends of the bride, with pink and white flowers and pink and white ribbon bows, the interior of All Sainte' Church, Wickham terrace, presented a picturesque scene on April 14, when the marriage was solemn- ised of Mr. Robert H. Pay and Miss Pearlie E. Yarrow. The Rev. R. .B. Bates officiated. The church organist, Mr. Ayscough, presided at the organ, and during the signing of the register Mrs. Edwin Bristow rendered a vocal solo. The bridegroom is the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Pay, Rivlyn, Bulimba Heights, and the bride is the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. T. Yarrow, Ilford, Hawthorne. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a frock of ivory manette," the bodice of which had silver embroideries at end, finished , on the shoulder with a ; spray o£ orange blossoms. Silver 'rosebuds' adorned the skirt, which .was petalled from the hem to the waist. Her veil of embroidered silk tulle, lent by Mrs. E. N. Stoodley, was arranged in coronet effect with pleated tulle and .orange blossoms, and finished at the sides with clusters of orange blossoms. The train of hand-embroidered silk tulle fell fromi the shoulders, and was ornamented with pink rosebuds and orange blossoms. She carried a bouquet of tuber roses and maiden hair fern, tied with white satin streamers, terminating with a satin and silver horseshoe. Three bridesmaids were
in attendance-the Misses Edith; Bristow, Edna Huthcrford, and Ada Yarrow. They wore frocks made alike in apricot, pink, and lavender respectively, the bodices being silver tissue, shirred at the sides, and' finished on the shoulders with a silver-tipped chrysanthemum. Godets of mariette hung loosely from the waist over skirts of silver lace, and were caught together with silver rosebuds. Each maid wore a head band of tulle finished at~the side with posies and long tulle streamers. They carried Victorian posies of carnations and maiden hair fern, in tulle and tied with satin ribbon streamers' to tone. Mr.. E. Rutherford' attended as best man," and Mr. A, Metcalf was grooms- man. At the conclusion of the ceremony Mr.. and Mrs. F. S. Yarrow entertained a number of guests at the wedding de- jeuner, at the Country Press Roof Garden. Mrs._ Yarrow received her guests wearing a frock of dove grey crepe v de Chine, showing a vest, collar, and cuffs of blue and grey chenille georgette, and finished with a posy of blue flowers at the sboulder. Her close fitting hat of corded silk in a deeper shade was finished with a brilliant at the sides, and she carried, a posy of pink roses and hydrangea tied with blue streamers. Mrs.H. Pay (mother of the bridegroom) chose a frock of floral crepe de Chine relieved with mastic, and she wore a crinoline hat to match. Her bouquet was of pink roses tied with blue streamers. The supper-room was gaily decorated with pink and mauve streamers, and a white wedding bell was suspended above the bridal table. Tall crystal vases of pink gerberas beautified the tables. Vocal and instrumental items were rendered by Mr and Mrs. Edwin Bristow, Mrs. E. Stood- ley, Misses Edna and Vera Rutherford, Edith Bristow, 'and Ada Yarrow.' On leaving for the honeymoon, which is being spent at Caloundra, Mrs. Robert Pay wore a- crepe de Chine frock in French tones of pink and blue, showing embroideries in pink, with which she wore a small pink straw hat. Her travelling coat was of blue, and she carried a blue leather handbag.

Perfect

and true x

source

The Princess And The Pea

RC is returning home tomorrow and whilst I await a reasonable rate to return her new ensemble that isnt going to cost me as much as the actual bed I was reminded of my favourite fairytale whilst I endeavoured to make her old single more comfortable. A trip to Pillowtalk and one eggshell underlay along with one double plush mattress cover, vintage floral sheets and comfy dooner, layer upon layer, a la princess and the pea. Perfect! Oh yes and we are back it seems the outback was not for me as I explained to SQ I feel like Nicole Kidman in Australia but Hugh's in the pub working 17 hours a day.

Gypsy Love

I must have had an inkling the other night when I said to Reno Boy I really want a wooden four poster bed. For months I have been dreaming a bedroom deco that will suit our lime green walls, the ones that seemed a really good idea at the time. I thought I could drape colourful saris over the bed into a canopy to dilute the green and then i found this, this gorgeous caravan with the same green walls, the window in the same place, the four poster bed and now, now I have a plan x

image oourtesy weheartit

Today

so good to open those windows and let the fresh air in after all that crazy Queensland weather. RC is back to school and I need some inspiration for a big family dinner tonight, I'm thinking mystery menu ...

The Country Estate

Love the styling on this shoot featuring Emma Watson in an old teen vogue mag.

What Would Audrey Do?

Timeless Lessons for Living With Grace and Style.



I've just stumbled upon this gorgeous book available here, one for the library. Audrey Hepburn really was the epitomy of style, with such a beautiful heart.


I particularly love number five on the Audrey essentials list, when in doubt, love.
definately words to live by x

Emma Hack, Diverse Multimedia Artist

Emma's wallpaper collections feature Florence Broadhurst wallpaper designs combined with her body illustration. In 2008 Emma introduced live animals into her work. If you have been reading my blog for a little while you will know how much I absolutely adore Florence Broadhurst designs. This art by Emma Hack is just divine and the doco below is a really good insight into the way she works, well worth a lookx

INCENDIARY

Watched this last night. Really good film, Michelle Williams is brilliant.

Pretty Parasols

whether you twirl them or decorate your cocktail, parasols make me smile



images courtesy of google, wehearit and
a field journal

fun. feminine. frivolity.

Flea Market Finds

I love roadtripping to Innisfail, its about an hours drive from where we live with a fabulous oppy a little over half way at Babinda. The opshops are fantastic, it has one of the largest concentration of art deco buildings within a cbd district in Australia and the pasta at our favourite cafe is amazing! Vintage crochet bags and fabulous old frock found at Innisfail Lifeline (pre cyclone) two weeks ago.
For more fleamarket finds head over to Sophies

Love this ....

recycled grey doily rug

Papillons de Papier

I have always been drawn to butterflies, their ethereal beauty, in times past being a symbol of the goddess. This morning I stumbled upon the work of Australian artist, Catherine Swan, hand cut butterflies from vintage magazines, a perfect mix.

Catherine says, “I have always loved the old Kodachrome colours and paper quality that came about through a method of printing that just doesn’t exist anymore. Let someone flip through a copy of a magazine from over 50 years ago and you’ll find that they become very respectful and reverent because these publications are like a time capsule.

There’s something trapped and beautiful about the text and the illustrations and advertising that express with such gravity the details of products and events, which at the time were so important, but now seem so irrelevant. The butterfly metaphor, apart from being visually pleasing to me, seemed the perfect way to express this heartbreaking beauty”

Today

I am totally inspired by this amazing woman (aspiring Martha Stewart style domestic goddess without the jail sentance) and the women of Queensland who are making a difference. Good old fashioned baking, compassion and love. Simply beautiful.

Baked Relief is a movement started by Danielle aka Digella after severe flooding devastated parts of Queensland, Australia. Separated from her boys who were with her mum (whose property was affected by flooding) and needing to do something, she came up with the idea to start baking some relief for the State Emergency Services volunteers who were sandbagging around Brisbane.

She put the word out about what she was doing on her blog http://digella.blogspot.com and on Twitter and Facebook and offers of help and baking came rushing in. It has just grown beyond imagining since then and Baked Relief is now in the hands of hundreds of home cooks and bakers and is reaching people who are recovering from the floods and all of those thousands of volunteers helping them.

Baked Relief is providing food to people, to Volunteering QLD, the SES, QLD Police, Fire & Ambulance workers, the military helping clean up and just anyone who is out there doing what they can.

Baked Relief has evolved from the first plate of food Danielle brought to her local SES and is continuing to grow and progress through phases that will hopefully be long term support for those in need.

If you are like me and don't live in Brissie or the other parts of Queensland which are affected by floods you can donate here to make a difference.

Raising Hope

Like most Australians I have spent the last week glued to the tele watching in disbelief the floods which have consumed 75% of the state I live in. Seeing the devastation of the main streets in Toowoomba, the streets I have shopped with SQ in her uni days, the town I have spent many a girls weekend in, it breaks my heart, so many lives lost so much devastation. For the rest of January my etsy shop will be donating every sale to the Queensland Premiers Flood Relief Appeal. Shipping will be free and a packet of 10 vintage tickets will be sent with each order. So many wonderful women in the crafting community have led the way, its what makes me so proud to be Australian.