Not a Blogger

So it been another month and no updates, thats because it turns out I'm just not meant be a "blogger". I saw this on Lady Melbourne's blog  Reasons I know my blog is my boyfriend  and I knew right away I didn't want that.

I guess what I'm saying is I'm breaking up with my blog.

It was a fun few months,  we had our ups and downs, but I think it’s time we were just friends. I will stop by for a visit when I see something I know you will like or have something I need to share, but it will be on my terms, and not all that often. I know that if I continue seeing you that you will want me to spend the rest of my life with you, but I'm not ready for that, so it’s time we face the facts. We will never be anything more than friends who catch up once in a while.

Thank everyone who has been reading I will still update once in a while, but nothing constant. 

Well I’m back!

A month and no updates, you all most likely thought this blog was dead, but it’s not. I went on holidays for a month and didn't want to advertise my house was empty. Three weeks away one in China and two in Japan. This means I have lots photos and details of place I have been to come. Since getting home I have also been reminded of how much stuff I have. I really want to do a clean out but it seems wasteful and Michael had advised me it just an excuse to buy more things. But the feeling stayed with me so my first weekend back was spent cleaning, and clearing out.  I so far have 2 boxes of things to donate, and I also pledged to Buy Nothing New for the both of October so I can't just run out and fill the spaces these things came from. This month is also going to be very busy as I have two weddings, both of them in a different state. Lucky for me the first is in Sydney the weekend of the Love Vintage Fair.  http://www.lovevintage.com.au/  I'm looking forward to browsing all the pretty dresses. 

A proper update soon.

Nesting & Berry coloured tops

For the past few weeks I have found myself shopping mostly at Op shop. I have been a fan of them for as long as I can remember, but it's always been to supplement my shopping from chain stores. I have found so many great things these past few weeks dresses, fabric and household goods, there is never a shortage of choice.

I went into a Sam's Warehouse to get something - I can't even remember what it was now -  and I ended up in the homeware’s area looking at all the vases and statues and little items I could buy. I looked around and found while it was all very pretty there was nothing here I could not find at an op shop to reuse. The more I thought about it I realised a lot this stuff has no purpose other than look pretty, and I own a huge amount of it. I'm a huge nester.

Looking around my house I think about items that would make the cut if I have to down size and I find its only items that have a story attached or were given to me. This is a huge area of spending I think I can focused on cutting out/down on.  Maybe apply a rule one in one out, but I still feel this is wasteful unless the item is broken. 

I had a doona that was a bit dirty... truth is my cat had weeded on it. I was torn between throwing it out and getting a new one for around $60 or taking it to the dry cleaners and getting it cleaned for $45. In the end I took it to the dry cleaners as buying a new one seemed wasteful. When I got it back I left it in the plastic to stay clean until I needed it, only to find when I pulled it out the wee stains where even more noticeable and something they had done had made it smell even more strongly. By now it was too late to go back and complain but in trying to do what i saw as the right thing I ended up wasting $45. The doona is now at Ingrid's warming some of the cats which is fine but I now refuse to buy a replacement. Its been almost a year now and I still haven't replaced it, and I don't think I will, because in the end I have worked out I really didn't need it. It makes me wonder how many items I could live without if I just gave myself some cooling off time.
The top below was found the day of my birthday high tea at the lost and found markets. It's really fun to wear, but I have to be in the right frame of mine when I do, defiantly not on a I hate my wardrobe day. The skirt was a gift from a friend who brought it for herself but didn't like it on. I don't know it if would ever pair them like this again, but at the time i thought it was a good idea.

 Top:Lost and Found // Skirt: Etsy // Belt: Glassons

Sheepy Skirt

I'm fighting with my hair again and the moment... its hit the length where it long but not long enough for what I want to do with it. All it wants to do is fluff out about an inch from my head, add the lighter colour and well i don't leave my hair down much.

It so sunny here at the moment, but still a little chilli which means I can still get some wear out of my new woollen skirt. I found it at savers last month and its been so handy.

Knock me off

I really want a pair of swedish hasbeens in the styles below:

 

But I will not buy shoes without trying them on as I sit in the 41-43 range and nowhere stocks them. So I have come to a stalemate. It was the same with the Melissa's I really wanted a pair of UltraGirls but nowhere had the size 41/42, until last week when I went to the pop up store only to find they are too small.
I was explaining to a friend who owns a pair and has for years, how I can't wait for summer when the market is flooded with knock-offs and she was a little put out by this, she didn't like that her shoes were going to be on everyone.

It started me thinking (not about my friend but people in general) do the people who hate knockoffs do so because they feel they paid more therefore they deserve to be part of a restricted group? Do these same people ever consider what it would be like not to be able to fit into designer clothing or do they just see it as another way of setting themselves apart?

I have no problem with reproductions because it's generally the only way I can get an item I'm after that fits me because I don't often fit into straight sizes in shoes or clothing. I know a lot of people use the “but it takes away from the designers livelihood” but should I care when the designer doesn't care I can't fit into their products? I'm more than happy to pay a lot of money and buy custom made or locally designed clothing when they fit, but if they don't should I feel bad when I take a photo of an item that doesn't and then head home to my sewing machine or have someone make a copy? Or even head to the chain store next door and buy an almost identical item in my size?

I have over the years - because of this - found I will wear clothing and shoes from just about anywhere, my only real requirement (aside from them looking pretty) is quality and availability, price only factors in when the quality is low. Labels don't mean anything to me, unless it's the care instructions.

And thats the end to my rant! 

(I added random photos from my phone so it wasn't so wordy) 

Strawberries and Lace

I had friends in town this weekend so I have been running around for the past few days. Today was the last day they were here and it was a nice simple walk around the city.

Skirt: DIY // Jumper: Asos // Brooch: Rose st Markets

Yesterday we went to Rose St Markets and I found this cute little brooch. When my boyfriend saw it, he pointed out I shouldn't wear it on my left side above my heart as it would be disrespectful to the soldiers who were awarded real ones and I think this makes sense. Super Kawaii Mama wrote in a post:

"To give an example of something else I believe is beautiful but has also unintentionally caused offence and hurt stemming from a similar historical context is this. Once, when all dressed up in my 1940′s outfit, hair done and ready to hit the dance floor; I was told in no uncertain terms just how insensitive this was. The venue for the dance was my local RSL Club (this is Returned Service Man’s League Club for those of you overseas), and the problem was that by dressing in war era style at a venue where many elderly soldiers went socially, it caused great distress by bringing back memories of the war...." The rest of the post is here

Just food for thought, I guess it just reiterates that fashion, clothing and how you dress/present ourselves really does mean more than some people think.

On a less serious note, the jumper is my first purchase from Asos and I'm pretty disappointed. I love the colour, the lace and the shape, but it is really poor quality. It doesn't keep its shape for longer then 30 minutes and after that turns into a sack. I guess because most of my internet purchase have been from Etsy so either secondhand or handmade I think I thought internet quality was automatically high, but it guess that's not the case. It just makes me think twice about buying from Asos. Also the fact they claim all item are the same measurements regards less of brand, and I know for a fact this is a load of kitty poo, but it makes it really hard to take the gamble as I'm between two sizes (aren't we all!)

Off to visit Ingrid's Haven

We have been cleaning up and out the house this past few week and had a pile of pillows and a doona we need to take to Ingrid's Haven as a donation for her cats. Ingrid's Haven is a non-profit cat shelter in Victoria, an hour's drive from Melbourne. Ingrid has many cats and kittens available for adoption, most of them coming from death row at the pound, taken in by Ingrid until new loving homes can be found. All cats and kittens are desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea treated. The Haven is a no-kill shelter.
This is the shelter we got our adorable Lillian, if you're thinking of getting a cat/kitten please head to Ingrid's she has a cat waiting to come home with you.

All this meant after a morning of cleaning we went for a drive to the country which called for a cute dress and my new sandals. I picked these up at target for $11 and love them... but they are a lot higher then I can take. I will keep wearing them but not when I have to do lots of walking.

 

Dress: Cotton On (DIY'ed shorter) // Cardie: Cheap cardie store (Cocolatte) // Shoes: Target

  Handbag: ebay // Sweater Clip: Vintage Fair

PS: its driving me nuts that my cardie and dress is not straight!

Sunny Melbourne Day in July

We have had the nicest weather these past few days, ranging from 18 - 22  Degrees in the middle of winter. I was surprised that rather then buy something new, I wanted to unpack my summer clothing.  I didn't as I know its going to change again back to cold,  instead I just opted to wear some of my not so winter and not so summer clothing instead.

We all have items that float between the seasons and I often find I undervalue them. I think this is because they get worn so much they lose their unique appeal.

I have two black skirts that fall into this category, they are both made of  what I call "Raincoat" material. This makes them a bit too light for winter as the wind cuts right through and a bit heavy in summer as they really don't breath.  On the plus they are never get wrinkly and stain, but I do think they would melt if I sat to close to the heater.

Skirt: Jacqui-E // Cardie: Valleygirl // Shirt: Barkins // Shoes: Hush Puppies 

 Handbag: Ebay // Brooch: Gift from Leo

Sewing with the pattern upside down

Do you ever read the instruction in a sewing pattern and go "Huh" ?
With every new pattern I find myself totally confused, twisting the page to different angles to see how what they are explaining relates to the picture and my fabric in front of me.  

Recently I tried buttonhole's, I have never sewn any kind of buttonhole so this was always going to be a learning experience. I ended up doing what I have found works best…. followed the odd and sometimes insane sounding instructions, more often than not I have found what they are saying might sound strange but works out in the end. 

I took some photos to show you what I did,

  

Looking at the end results I was pretty happy and while the holes are a good deal bigger than they were meant to be, I just guessed it was time for some extra large buttons. 

It turns out I was wrong, there are a few more steps I had missed. I found this out when I went to my trusted resource (aside from my mum) Youtube. The video below shows a few different ways of sewing bound buttons I used the basic way not the new way she came up with as I has already started.

I'm not the only one who thinks about these things!

 Annebeth from The Styling Dutchman talks about how internet shopping effects us:

Serious Saturday Permanent Shoppers