I am...

I am feeling unmotivated. I am trying to buy an new car as my other one was written off due to flood damage 3 weeks ago. I am wearing a pretty summer dress. I am itching my eyes. I am wanting an over sized woolen jumper. I am feeling sorry for people in Christchurch. I am liking this geometric necklace by verabel below. I am wishing it was the one I saw in Sorrento over summer, hanging from the neck of a delicate pretty young mother to be. But that dream is lost forever.

I only wear foxes

Happy Monday!

My Jemima Puddle-duck and Fox gold cameo brooch was featured in a treasury on the weekend. It was created by melissahojnacki. I had already spied the gorgeous designs by dandyrions and DIVINEsweetness. But the pretty little fox brooch by MissYvonneNicole was an entirely new delight to me.

Click image to see in more detail and click on the links. Enjoy :)

Blackbird Summer Market

Tomorrow bramble and bear will be holding a stall at The Blackbird Market. It is my favourite market of all!
Situated in the quaint Worker Club Hotel on the corner of Brunswick and Gertrude Streets, Fitzroy. Escape the possible showers and browse quirky wares from Melbourne designers while listening to 1960's tunes! Tomorrow should be even more enjoyable than usual as I will have my best friend Lauren to keep me company between meeting other lovely people.

Hope to see you there! :)

Hidden Animal Teacups

You can never have enough cute tea cups! Behold Hidden Animal Teacup designed by Ange-line Tetrault.

They are large white china mugs with either a Bear, Owl or Fox appearing as you drink your tea. What could be sweeter? Each cup comes in a different shape with gorgeous scalloped edges and ornate handle.

I first saw these tea cups in Frankie magazine about 6 weeks ago. After have a massive search of the internet I found them on Amazon.com and am planning to purchase! Not sure whether I should get just one, one for me and one or two for friends, or all 3 for myself. Decisions decisions!

Which do you like best?

Happy Friday

Here is Polo the rabbit from RosyBunny's photo stream.

Enjoy your weekend!

Kitchen Love

On the weekend I went shopping with my best friend to escape the 40 degree heat. We decided to look for engagement presents for a friend and hit up the kitchen and homeware stores. Whilst we did find presents for our friend I stumbled across some things I just had to have! I have been living out of home for 2 and a half years and never had a sifter! I couldn't pass this one up. Also bought this sweet set of Maxwell and Williams mugs in the soldier version. Only $9.95 for 4. Bargain! They also come in Babuska and Geisha designs.

Australia

Australia/ The Land Down Under. It's where I live. Wednesday of this week happens to be Australia Day, which means everyone gets the day off (unless your unlucky enough to work a public holiday, in which case you get paid well that day anyway). It's all about sun, beaches, friends, bbqs and good tunes.
Taking about Australia, here is a lovely treasury made up of creations from Australian Designs. Thanks to Zinnia Pea for putting it together. It includes my Red Deer Vintage Style Cameo necklace which can be found here.

Click image for full view of all the wonderful items. Enjoy!

Fan mail

My first real piece of fan mail! Click to see full size. It is from the lovely Sharon from Tropical North Queensland regarding an owl necklace I made up for her. Thank you Sharon, it is so rewarding to hear lovely feedback like yours!

Barnaby Rudge

Whilst on holidays I finished reading two novels from my favourite author, Charles Dickens. I finally finished Oliver Twist, which I had been reading on and off for 6 months and unfortunately become disengaged with. I then read A Tale of Two Cities, Dicken's second historical novel in which he bases characters and additional stories around real historical events. Two Cities was based around the French Revolution, which I had studied in school so had an understanding of. It was an excellent novel with some classic unforgettable Dickens passages of personification (giving inanimate objects human characteristics). It was overall a very engaging retelling of a dark period in history, with some very emotional and sometimes violent twists and turns.

The next book I bought to read was another safe bet, this time Charles Dickens 'Barnaby Rudge'. It was his first historical novel based on the 1780 Gordon Riots in England. The main character Barnaby has a pet raven named 'Grip' who speaks and sings. I am halfway through the novel and enjoying it so far. Will have to let you know how I find the second half!

The King's Speech

On the weekend I had the pleasure of seeing a new an highly regarded film, The King's Speech. It documents the rise of King George VI, who happens to have a stutter which is rather hard when you life will be based upon making public speeches and addresses to the nation and world. It is set between 1925 and 1939 and focuses in on the friendship forged between the King (also known as Bertie) and his unconventional Australian speech therapist.

It was a fantastic and moving film which I thoroughly enjoyed it.

2011. Hi.

I have just returned to the real world after a lovely summer holiday. I hope you have had a nice break too!

It would appear we have a bit to catch up on! I will fill you in on my 2.5 week camping holiday in the best way I know, with 5 of my favourite photographs from the trip.

Unfortunately while we were away there was a small fire at our home. The housesitters got there in good time (it wasn't their fault) otherwise things would have been a lot worse. There was barely any property damage besides the smell of smoke which has clung to everything. The saddest part was that in the fire we lost our dear friend and favourite pet... Herschel Vern Mathers. He was turning 7 next week and still had many good years left in him.
But we have so many nice and funny memories of Herschel and our adventures with him. We are so grateful we got to spend two years of our lives with him! In closing here is one of his songs... Of course in this case the lyrics are changed from "My Girl" to "Herschel".
We miss you Hersch!

Hair Crisis

Last week I went through a little ordeal. It all started with Alexa Chung’s hair. I wanted my shoulder length hair to be just like hers, with a soft wave! So I decided to get a perm on my dead straight hair.

I called my usual hairdresser but they only did tight, short ‘old lady’ perms. This new place opened a couple of months ago on my street and they advertised perms so I thought I’d give them a try. I brought in a picture of the ever fashionable Alexa which the hairdresser asked to look at a couple of times for reference and I sat down to get my hair permanently waved. After two and a half hours of washing, waving, drying I sat to look at the finished product in the mirror which the hair dresser was putting handfuls of mousse into. It looked curly, not wavy. I was assured that it would look better once I went home and blow waved it the next day. So I just paid and went out to a party that night with my hair up in a bun to hide it.

Next day I realised my hair was very damaged and not at all how I wanted it. But I went to an engagement party that night. At 11pm whilst dancing up a storm I felt my scalp getting hot and itchy. The next day it was a bit the same. Sunday morning I washed my hair and the ends were so dead... it looked horrible! So I went to hairdressers and got my money back for the perm. I then made an emergency booking at my regular hairdresser. They were so shocked at what this other place had done and that they had left the chemicals on my head for 45 mins(only meant to be 20) and obviously used the harshest one for thick hair and singed my hair. So I got all the dead hair styled into a short pixie cut.

Sunday night when I was trying to sleep I could feel my hair itching and my ears and neck burning. I went to work on Monday and after 1 hour I thought my forehead felt funny so went to look in the mirror. My head was growing! So I freaked out and was crying to my boss saying “What do I do?” So I drove to the doctor which was only 15 minutes away and my head had gotten larger still! He gave me some tablets to take and I went home. My husband Sean came home early to look after me.

It stayed the same size all day then at 9.30 that night after Sean and I watched Inception... I looked in the mirror and saw my head was getting bigger again! I freaked out so Sean drove me to hospital where I sat around the ER. I felt safer there in the waiting room than to be at home waiting for things to get worse. They gave me some more tablets and I got home at 2am. After 3 days at home with a bulbous head and puffy face I went back to work.

I have bought some headbands to wear with my new hair, but I still don’t feel happy with it! I think I will cut the sides a bit shorter myself tonight. Family, friends and work colleagues have been so supportive about my hair and say it suits me and my slight frame which is nice!

I needed to find some short hair role models to boost my self esteem and here they are. Emma Watson and Jean Seberg. I am in good company!

Vintage Bathers

Gorgeous vintage style bathers from Tigerlily. Love!
It is although a little hard for me to justify spending $200+ on something you are meant to wear in the water. Especially as I don't like water. :)

Colour and Happiness

A splash of colour, joy and happiness is just what I need on this topsy turvy Monday. Hope it is of benefit to you too!
And here it is courtesy of Try Whistling this 's flickr photo stream. Illustration by Jenny William in the book The Silver Wood, 1966.

Emo Craft set to music

The embodiment of everything I was and wanted to be from 2004-2007. Still such a sweet song and film clip. Thank you Conor.

Vintage spoon handle brooch

Last week I purchased a vintage spoon handle brooch with chain from Megan at Creatures of the Greenwood. I first saw a picture of the brooch on her Facebook page (click here to visit) and I just had to have it! Megan Greenwood has been creating jewellery for some time now using ornate silver cutlery. Her designs are very intricate and are always unique.

Me and my new brooch

More Silver spoon brooches

Megan and one of her 'creatures', a little elephant!

Summer

Welcome back baby!

Versatile Blogger Award

I recently received a Versatile Blogger award from the lovely Mandy Crandell at SOMETHiNG MONUMENTAL. There are some rules to follow if you win one of these awards. They are:

1. Thank and link back to the person that gave you the award.

2. Pass the award on to 15 amazing bloggers you’ve happened upon and love.

3. Contact those bloggers and let them know they’ve won.

4. State 7 things about yourself.

At last count I follow 61 blogs... but I have managed to narrow it down to 11 who fit into versatile banner.

1. Animalarium - just my absolute favourite. Animals in graphic design spanning decades and continents.

2. Gday Mate Gday Mate - One of the most entertaining blogs you'll ever find! Plenty of posts about Melbourne and skaters. I may be biased - this is my husbands blog! He's a really good guy. Also I think this blog may need an editor! :) Gday Mate.

3. I Have Two Rooms - my sister. She's terribly clever.

4. Here Comes The Sun - the gorgeous adventures of Amanda Thomas from New Zealand. Young, fashionable, married. Loves it.

5. Spokes and Daggers - Blog of the richly talented creator of Hopeless Lingerie. Featuring beautiful lounging ladies in vintage knickers. Enough said.

6. SOMETHiNG MONUMENTAL - an ever fascinating parade of photographs, tutorials and features.

7. Kateřina Anna - beautiful photos of beautiful people

8. Calico and Co. - it goes without saying!

9. Tabitha Emma - bringing sweetness to your blog reader

10. Curiouser than Usual - Hey, I'm in the book club 'Ex Libris'

11. Zinnia Pea - lovely tales from the Adelaide Hills

Thank you to all the above bloggers for lightening up my days!

7 Things about myself:

1. I just went out for lunch, it was my bosses shout

2. I now feel like chocolate

3. I only have a $50 note in my purse

4. I happen to know that the snack machine at work only accepts $2 coins

5. I now wish I had have paid for my own lunch as that would mean I'd have change for the machine

6. I have to go the entire afternoon without chocolate

7. I will now spend the next 3.5 hours dreaming about Boost bars