Oops, I did it again!

 

I wasn't meaning to look in the new local vintage shop.

I wasn't meaning to even go near the back wall of bags.

I wasn't meaning to pick up this hand bag.

I wasn't meaning to caress it and stroke it.

I wasn't meaning to fall in love with it.

But I did all of the above.

And this absolutely beautiful 50's tapestry bag came home with me.

(Sigh!)

 

But isn't she lovely!

Lets admire her a little more, shall we.

 

 

I have wanted a vintage tapestry bag for the longest time and this one has the greatest pansy design and best colours and is so well made. (Am I gushing? I think I may be!)

She does have a few issues with her lining but I am hoping to patch or sew the few holes and let her sing again. If anyone has any tips on lining repair please share!

Despite caving in to the lure of my sweet new bag, I was terribly strong and said a resounding "NO" to the adorable black capelet. Will of iron !

I did however spy the BEST 50's jacket I have ever seen. No, really! So my new vintage shop may soon become both my new worst enemy and my new best friend.

(Sigh! Sigh!)

 

 

I felt a bit Parisian today with my knit beret and darling capelet, but the more I look at these pics the more I am not liking myself with the hat. I look kind of...bald. Or something.

Oh well, you live and you learn.

And having a blog and scrutinising yourself is a great way to weed out the looks that just don't work for you.

 

 

I am going to persevere with the beret and try and wear it a bit differently next time. Maybe with my hair down. Or a brighter colour hat perhaps. (Stay tuned on that terribly exciting topic.)

Have you ever tried a different look that just didn't work but you really wanted it to?

 

 

 

 

What ever happened to relaxing on the weekend?

 

After a mammoth night on Friday, having gawked and gandered at the Gatsby Soiree and then hitting a couple of pubs on the way home to ensure we got the most mileage out of all of our finery ( ha ha, didn't we get some funny looks!), it was absolutely necessary to slow down the pace a bit and hang out with my wee clan on the weekend.

I am fast realising that weekends aren't for relaxing anymore.

Gone are the days of waking up at midday, enjoying a leisurely cup of tea and a read in bed followed by a traipse around a market. (Oooohhhh, doesn't that sound like a heavenly day!)

Now we try and fit in as much as we can, and wring every ounce of enjoyment out of the time we get to spend together.

Despite the weekends not being a time to rest up and relax, I am loving that they are now a great time to spend time and catch up with the ones I love best. (Although I still think a bloody sleep in isn't too much to ask!!!)

So last weekend was spent going to my sons football matches,

(Yes two! Saturday and Sunday! Both at 9am!)

 

 

 

puddle play with the little Miss,

 

 

 

and roller skating with the little fella.

 

 

 

As usual I had sooo much fun at the roller skating rink that I almost felt guilty.

I mean, should a lady of mature years be loving the freedom, the wild abandon,the exhilaration , the speed quite so much? I think I love it more than my son!

I was pretty happy to see that there were quite a few adults on the rink and I wasn't the only one letting my inner child get the best of me.

So today, on my day off, I was finally able to catch up on all of the menial and mundane aspects of every day life like cleaning, grocery shopping, baking and general Super-Mumness.

And this is what I wore whilst undertaking the trivial but necessary mundane jobs.

 

 

A splash of green to liven up the classic black and white.

Of course  the op shopped coat and fur collar had to be worn this morning because it was foggy, drizzly and cold.

 

 

Unfortunately more boring tasks await before bed, so I must be off.

Hurry up Queen's Birthday long weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Getting my Gatsby on.

 

What a night!

With much excitement I donned my beaded frock, feathers and, of course, Barry my furry warm buddy, and together with a favourite gal pal  we hit the ritzy Malvern Town Hall for the

 Gatsby Winter Soiree.

 

 

 

 

Melbourne thought it would get a little head start on the winter weather putting on a fine display of thunder, lightening and LOTS of rain to contend with but we arrived only a bit late but very soggy.

(Note to self; rain is not kind to feathers, fur and heavy eye makeup!)

Amazing vintage cars greeted us at the entrance, but I couldn't really appreciate their beauty because I was too busy gawking at the plethora of divine frocks, dashing men and beautiful people.

Soooo many stunning dresses with many appearing to be true vintage with intricate beading and fancy details. I think I got whip lash from suddenly turning my head too fast  to spy on outfits and I lost count of how many times we exclaimed "Oooohhh, look at that one!"

Frock envy was rampant!

We drooled over amazing  furs, stylish 20's suits on the gents and some of the hair styles and head adornments were just breath taking.

We were so impressed by how much effort everyone had gone to and it was wonderful to see young and old, dames and swells all partying in the 20's spirit.

 

 

 

 

The bands were brilliant and the music so infectious that we all couldn't stay off the dance floor.

There were some fantastic dancers wearing out the floor, shimmying and shaking their chasis' with wild abandon.

 

 

 

 

 

It was great being able to have a little shop with some vintage stalls, but I think what I loved most about the night was people watching. (Sorry if I snapped anyone without their permission, but I couldn't resist capturing how pretty everyone looked!)

Whilst the night was great fun I did have a few grumbles. (Don't I always!)

I was really looking forward to sampling some fancy Gatsby inspired cocktails, but the wait for a drink was about 20 minutes and they didn't have any lovely fancy drinks to speak of. No swanky giggle water! What! At a soiree! And so I had to drink a cider - eeeuuuwwww.

And I wish that the dancing displays were on the stage because little old short me had no chance of seeing the excellent moves.

I tend to dress in a more 1950's style but I did enjoy pulling together my1920's ensemble entirely from op shop finds and throwing in a couple of me-made pretties to jazz it up. I felt like the bees knees in my darling black beaded frock (Target! Who would have thought!), 1960's burnt orange sheer jacket, Barry my faux fur and my so very comfy nana shoes. I made my necklace and feather headpiece to match the vibrant colour in my jacket.

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think?

Dizzy Dora or the Cats Meow?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Sneaky peek

Just a really quick peek at what I have been up to for the past week.

 

 

I'm frantically getting bits and bobs ready for tomorrow nights Gatsby Winter Soiree and today has been a frenzy of sewing, jewellery making and the unusual past-time of feather head wear creating.

Not my normal Thursday activities but definitely fun.

I am soooo happy with my ensemble and can't wait to frock up, fill up my hip flask with some hootch and get my Charleston on!

And I will try and take LOTS of pics because I am predicting some knock-out dresses, dapper lads and amazing dancing.

 

 

 

 

 



Bag lady

 

 

I have been experiencing a bit of a frock drought at my local op shops lately.

I did manage to unearth one of my wish list items though (no, unfortunately not the unicorn!) with this new to me purple cardie.

 I am loving this shade and pussy bow style with its 40's feel and am sooo happy with how many clothing items I can team it with.

 

 

 

My cherry print skirt has exactly the right purple shade and I can't even explain how happy that makes matchy-matchy me.

Despite the dress shortage, I am having a veritable deluge of other pretties.

BAGS!

I have been a bag lady from way back and can't seem to say no to a pretty bag.

I have absolutely no will power when it comes to chocolate or handbags and so have accumulated a few (Cough! Cough!) over the years.

They are everywhere in my house. In tubs. Under beds. On shelves.

I even have them hanging on walls as decor items.

 

 

Yes, behind that chair is an ever growing wall o' bags!

I think that they may even be breeding.(Yeah, that must be it. Every night there is a handbag orgy going on. It could happen.)

But I love having different bags for every outfit, mood or situation.

Recently my lovely mother-in-law gifted me not one but two amazing vintage bags from an antique fair she had attended.

She knows me and my addiction too well!

 

 

So sparkly! It would take a much stronger woman than I to resist a blinged up bag!

 

 

This one takes me back to my childhood and loving nothing better than raiding my Nana's wardrobe and playing dress - up. I used to covet a white bag of Nana's just like this one.

And so, being me, these two beauties weren't enough. I needed more! More!

I couldn't resist this wee lovely from eBay with its soft, soft leather and red clasp.

(I was a bit ticked off though that the seller failed to mention the rips in the lining. Hmmmm. Oh well, the old girl is a bit ragged but still so pretty.)

 

And how could I not bring home this sweet little cane number. I couldn't just leave it at the op shop all lonely and unloved!

 

 

So, it is pretty clear to me that as well as my capelet obsession I have a very serious hand bag addiction. Serious serious! Group therapy serious. Maybe even shock therapy serious!

Is there a support group for those loving handbags a little too much?

Would anyone else like to join?

 

(I have just had a rather comforting thought. It is not an addiction but a collection. That sounds better doesn't it. Oh lawd, that sort of denial is exactly what a true addict would say. I need help!)

 

 Oh look! There is me. With another handbag!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Weekend tales

 

Whew, what a weekend!

I've had the kind of weekend that needs a weekend to recover from.

On Friday night, the husband and I joined some friends to see British India, an amazing group of young Aussie punk rockers.

 (How rock star am I? Two Friday nights in a row seeing gigs. Next I will start wearing leather pants and having vodka in my cornflakes!)

I am not sure I can even express how fun and exhilarating the night was with the boys inciting rowdy shenanigans from the crowd of mostly young guys. The fans were moshing; lurching and playing pushy-shovey with each other until on many occasions it all went a bit far and just standing in the crowd turned scary. Thankfully I was not ploughed down in the waves of testosterone destruction  but I have some killer bruises from the night.

I tried to take some snaps but all I got were the shirts of the guys in front. I even tried to get my husband to take some from his much higher vantage point but he got a little over excited and decided to join in the moshing instead.

 

 

 

 

I wore an adorable Dangerfield dress from years ago that isn't exactly rock chic, but the colour is amazing and vibrant.

 

 

Awww, I coordinated with my husband. That's love!

And then instead of recovering on Saturday, nursing my poor head, throbbing feet and still ringing ears, I went out for a late breakie with my husband and then I took my Mum birthday shopping. It was a lovely afternoon of gossip, bonding and clothes, but lawd, it was exhausting!

 

 

Lots of tea and rests were required of course.

Sunday didn't turn out to be a day of rest either with the little fella's football match followed by a wonderful family lunch to celebrate my Mums birthday.

 

 

Happy 29th birthday Mum!

 (That's how old she tells us she is. But honestly, isn't she gorgeous?)

Somehow I was too busy talking to get any pics of my delicious food but I did take shots of my son enjoying his amazing cinnamon ice cream.

 

 

And then leaping and jumping, high on the ice cream sugar rush that inevitably followed.

 

 

Finally, there was more shopping as I tried to pull together a 1920's ensemble for the upcoming Gatsby inspired Winter Soiree.

Savers once again lived up to its name and saved me by providing a very cheap  but gorgeous dress and chiffon jacket that I think I can fashion to be 20's(ish) - but more of that exciting event to follow!

I don't think this old girl could survive too many more of these fast paced weekends and I vow to have a nice quiet week to recharge the batteries.

Now, if only work and children could oblige!

What have you been up to this weekend?

 

 

 

 

 

 



Green and pink and little pleasures.

 

I love green.

I love green and pink together even more.

That's why I adore this skirt with its great shades of green and pink on black.

 I think I have had it since I was about twenty two. Of course it used to  sit on my hips back then but at least I can still fit into it.

Despite its antiquity it is a favourite and the pattern just feels so fresh and pretty.

Now what I don't love is big zits and terribly dirty hair, both of which I featured today, so I kinda needed the pick me up of pink and green together to get me through the day.

I popped in to Savers in between all the other errands I had to do today and although I didn't find anything I did have a lovely experience.

One of the great ladies that work there was kind enough to give me a compliment on my outfit and said "I see you come in and I always think you look so lovely" and whilst I walked in feeling self conscious and grotty she totally made me walk away feeling fantastic.

Isn't it amazing how a smile, a cheerful word or a compliment from someone you don't even know can really help some days.

 

I tried to hide the dirty 'do with a beautiful vintage scarf in range of pinks.

 

 

Besides lovely compliments, today has been a day of little pleasures and enjoying vanilla chai lattes (why has it taken me to get on the chai bandwagon?), the novelty of being able to wear my cardigans, tights and coats and watching the fantastic Aussie series, Wentworth.

 

Image found here

 

If you are able to, watch it. It is really good. Really bloody good!

 I didn't want to like it because I LOVED the old Prisoner and grew up watching Queen Bea, Doreen, Lizzy and Vinegar Tits as a young girl. I still watch the reruns on Foxtel.

It was a little disconcerting to see the new actors playing the old characters in a thoroughly modern setting, but this new show is full of drama, and powerful performances and has totally sucked me in.

I love a day full of little pleasures!

What are your little pleasures?