The girl is on a roll!

 

I have had a week more of holidays after everyone else in my little clan has returned to school/work/child care. Which means three whole days to myself!

I had sooooo many plans for my break; painting, sewing, redecorating and a massive clear out and sale on ebay. Maybe, if I was a good girl, even some relaxing. Bliss!

But the universe decided to throw a spanner in the works. Actually it was more a radiator than a spanner and it had a monumental hissy fit, did a lot of gushing of steam and crapped out.

Not happy Jan!

So for most of this week I have had no car and have been biking it around town on my awesome ride.

 

 

My beast of a bike looks rad with its massive old school handle bars and flame paint work, but it has no gears and is REALLY hard to pull  a trailer full of child and school bags.

My lack of transportation should mean that I have been industrious around home but instead I have been hitting my local op shops. Hard. Oh so hard.

I have a problem.

I am just having so much op shop luck lately and the more luck I have, the more difficult it is to stop. And so the huge clear out of my wardrobe is even more necessary.

After my epic op shop adventure of last week I really thought my mojo had run out, but LOOK, more vintage lovelies.

 

 

 

I have been looking for a pair of black low heeled Mary Jane's forever, and this pair are all leather and very comfortable.

 

 

Yeah, another pair of shoes. But look how funky they are! And they are kermit frog green and also surprisingly comfy.

 

 

 

 

 

How purdy is this frock! It is a hand made number from the 50's / 60's I'm guessing and is sheer and floaty and swirly and good for hiding the odd child in the skirts.

 

 

And it is blue! I have never owned a blue dress in my life but I quite like this pale shade.

 

 

 

And finally this bright vintage lovely. OK, I'm going to honest. I had my reservations about this one, but the cool colours and print have won me over.

 

 

 There are so many great shades to mix and match with so today I wore it with a cobalt blue cardigan, blue tights and my new to me green heels.

 

 

 

 

I felt like I was channelling Helga with my bright tights and heels. If only I had that woman's legs too!

 And I really love blue and green together. Just another one of those silly rules that were made to be broken!

I think it is actually very fortunate that I am returning to work next week (am I really saying that?), because my bank account just can't take anymore great shopping days.

Now, how can I hide everything from my husband?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Recent spoils

 

I have heard so many wondrous tales of small town op shops.

Fables of vintage beauties lying in piles in dusty little shops all with ridiculously low prices, just waiting for the retro loving girl to swoop in and nab them.

So of course I had VERY high hopes of bagging lots of bargains on my recent trip to NSW, but alas the shops in Bega sorely disappointed me (and I'm really sorry anyone who may live in Bega, but WTF is it with you all and staring. Rudely staring. At me and my family.) and the one op shop in Bermi only opens one day a week. Which , of course, was the day we were leaving. At 4am. And for some reason my husband wasn't up for negotiating a later departure date just so I could drag him and the kids into another op shop. (What is with that man?)

I did have a spare minute to pop into Gypsy Vintage in Cobargo and fell head over heels for a fabulous 50's blue and green party frock. Just perfect for the upcoming nuptials I'm attending. Perfect except for the crazy high price. Damn and drats!

I did score this very cute skirt with the loveliest cherry detail and pale green colour.

 

 

 

So what with all the beach romping and eating that made up my holiday I didn't have much of a chance to shop.

It was a whole other story when I returned to Melbourne though, and I was joined by some lovely ladies and we hit some rather posh suburbs like Toorak, Richmond and Hawthorn for a day of op shopping (and cake!).

It was glorious!

It's funny but before I even left for the day, I just knew I was going to be lucky and I was.

I was in the zone and boy did I score.

 

 

 

 

Some adorable enamel bowls that look like they were made for my kitchen.

 

 

Not one but two awesome pair of shoes. The purple pair were brand new, so I was pretty chuffed.

 

 

This amazing coat feels like it was made for me and fits me just so with a nipped in waist and flared

bottom.

 

 

Pervy poses just come naturally for me.

 

 

Of the many handbags I own I didn't have a tan and this is the softest leather and in great shape for vintage.

But I think my favourite score would have to be this white faux fur capelet. I'm pretty sure I leaped past someone and snatched it from the hanger when I first spied it. I then giggled madly when I saw it was only $12. Score! It is sooo plush and soft and I just  LOVE it!!!

 

 

It is  a Martin Moddel and when i got my new lovely home I realised that she had a friend.

 

 

Another Martin Moddel capelet I had just finished remodelling!

(Yeah, I have a problem with capelets.)

 

So I didn't walk away with a fancy new dress for the bloody wedding THIS weekend, but I had wonderful day with lots of laughs, shopping and cake. Huzzah!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Beachy romps in Bermagui.

 

I'm about to make you pretty jealous.

Not like, "I just ate 4 kilos of Tim Tams and look like Heidi Klum" jealous, but close enough.

I'm going to show you some beaches that will make you want to romp and frolic.

Beaches that will make you yearn to be walking on their cool soft sand.

Now, I know there are countless beautiful and picturesque places in Australia, but I can't help but think that Bermagui has the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen.

 

 

I am forever in awe of Bermagui's breathtaking landscapes and could take a gazillion pictures of the many different views and aspects. Actually I did take a gazillion pictures. Maybe even a gazillion and two.

 

 

How can I be blamed though. Just look at those beaches!

There are cliffs, crashing waves, soft clean sand, cool shells  just itching to be collected and the greatest rock pools to explore. My little clan was in heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Give me a good rock to sit on; to climb; to explore and I am a happy lady.

 

 

We had heard of an amazing beach in the Mimosa Rocks National Park which was made up entirely of varying sized round and egg shaped rocks, but after driving down 6km of perilous dirt road, braving a horrendous eco toilet and hiking along the beach for hours, we were no closer to finding it.

We did discover this AMAZING driftwood hut that someone had built on the beach.

 

 

It even had a shell curtain and a "Home" sign hanging over the door.

Whilst exploring the hut we were visited by a wallaby having a late lunch on the beach.

I'm at home now, surrounded by the mundane and suburban, but if I really try I can almost feel that sand between my toes!

 

 

Has anyone else been to beautiful Bermagui?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The house of a million treasures.

 

We have just returned from our little holiday in beautiful Bermagui after an eight hour car trip (eeeeuuuurrrggghhhh!!) and I am now surrounded by towers of suitcases and unpacked clothing that needs to be put away. I'm hoping that as I write this the cleaning fairies will pay me a visit and magically, wash, iron and hang everything.

(One day they will come, they really will!)

Whilst I procrastinate I thought I would share some pics of Gran and Pop's cool and uber kitsch abode in Bermagui.

Gran and Pop are my husbands grandparents and are in their 80's but continue to be pillars of the community, with Pop entertaining "the old folks" in aged care facilities with his piano accordion prowess, and Gran being on every committee, donating countless hours to all manner of organisations (she was awarded an Order of Australia for her voluntary work) as well as fitting in golf, tennis, bowls and darts.

These people are amazing and down to earth and not a little quirky and their house reflects their wonderful personalities. They come from an era when you had to make do and mend and almost every aspect of their home reflects this ethos with patchwork like repairs and  hand made modifications to their tiny dwelling.

Why throw away that broken toilet when you can use it as a plant pot?

Why not use a car door handle in your outdoor dunny?

Why throw away those food scraps when you can feed them to the cows that live in a paddock across the road?

They are both firm believers in the repair, reuse and recycle lifestyle, which is so refreshing in this throw away age.

They haven't really updated their decor (why bother if it still works?) since the 50,s and 60,s and so their house and sheds are full to bursting with retro furniture, bits and bobs and thingy-ma-jigs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I went a little crazy taking photos but I just kept finding more and more that I fell in love with. 

 

I was so sorry to leave and say goodbye to those special people (and that cool aqua bathroom!) but I have soooo many more pics to share of our Bermagui adventures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Birthdays, breakfasts, bling and bands.

My clan is currently having a wee break in stunning Bermagui, which is the sweetest little coastal town in NSW. We are staying with my husbands grand parents who are just awesome, and I have gone absolutely bonkers taking photo's of our trip and of Gran and Pop's house which is full of retro kitch-tastic treasures.

But I will bombard you with those later because I have only time for a quickie (ooohhhh, missus!) to fill you in on my birthday celebrations of last week.

Now I am not one to go cra cra on my birthday because I really don't want to admit to anyone I'm getting older. I am constantly trying to tell myself that I am still a young slip of a girl and hate when birthdays burst my bubble and inject that awful harsh reality stuff into my life.

I try to not act my age, not dress my age and generally not think of my age if I can help it.

I even work in an aged care facility where I can be guaranteed that I will look like one of the youngest there. (There is that damned Betty, who is 89 and has the best skin EVER and hardly a wrinkle. She tells me that it is all due to wearing a hat and having a brandy every night.

Damn you Betty!)

Any whoo I had a wonderful breakfast out with my kids where we feasted on only the healthiest fare.

 

As you can see I have to really watch what I eat now I'm getting older!

 

Yeah, he ate all of that. I really don't understand where he puts it.

The kids where dropped off (thank the lord for  the parents in law) and the Mr and I were joined by friends for a night of hilarity and loud music.

 

 

There were blinged up glasses.

 

 

There was a blinged up elephant. (Oh if only he had fit in my handbag)

 

 

There were beverages. With novelty sized pink parasols. As you do.

 

 

And there was punk music. A lot of loud and energetic punk music.

 

 

Go Pennywise!

So all in all, a great birthday of not acting my age.

Hurrah!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Tales from the sewing pile

 

This is what my sewing pile used to look like.

Poor forsaken souls lying crumpled and unloved in a corner, desperate to be hemmed; to be taken in; to be mended; to live again!

 

(Drum roll please)

 

Now behold!

 

 

Look at those happy content little possums.

All feeling fresh and newly invigorated. But most of all feeling pretty and purposeful once more.

Yes, I finally tackled some of my lovelies that needed some TLC and attention.

I'm not joking when I say that some of those poor dresses had been waiting in that dusty heap for a good year. I know, I know. For shame!

But now I can show off these lovely ladies in all their stitched and altered glory.

 

 

 

 

This 1960's "Alcorso" dress was burdened with oddly unflattering sleeves, but now with a nip and tuck she is finally fit to be worn. I love the roses on the cool black and white geometric pattern.

 

 

The middle frock is a divine "Geoff Riddell" shirt dress and was rescued from a Savers. It fitted like a glove everywhere, except the length which skimmed my ankles. Now it sits at a perfect below knee length that is much more me.

I had to hack off the sleeves of the amazing homemade vintage black dress with great bright green, orange and purple floral pattern as the style was doing nothing for me. And now with the new sleeveless design and a cute bow at the front it is ready to worn.

 

 

Now I am very likely upsetting many a vintage purist with my hacking and hemming. Sacrilege!

But in my defence I'd like to ask that isn't it better that I alter these frocks so I can actually wear them and thus these lovely dresses can be worn, appreciated and be loved again? I think so.

What do you think?

Have I committed the cardinal sin of the vintage loving girl?