lilac wine

I don't tend to wear much purple - it was my favourite colour as a kid and I think I wore so much of it then that I'm still wary of it.


I've been half-heartedly going through my clothes and trying to get rid of some. It's ridiculous how much stuff I actually have, given that I only wear about 3 things (shorts, t-shirts and thongs in summer; jeans, long-sleeved tees and cowboy boot in winter). I came across this rad tutorial the other day that explains how to make kids' pants from old t-shirts, so I've been sorting through everything I don't wear anymore to make pants for my own little creepy-crawly (well, not so much creepy, but very, very crawly). I was about to cut up this old Bonds tee, but I loved the colour so much I stopped myself.


I bought a bunch of these tees last summer when I was heavily with child, and the thin cotton made them perfect for the 30-plus days. Now, of course, they're all stretched in the belly area, so I kind of hiked it up with a little badge to avoid the pouchy thing that was happening. Maybe I can take them in and get some more wear out of them? Or maybe they'll end up on Baboushka ;-)

(purple tee: Bonds
long-sleeved tee: also Bonds
badge: Milk Thieves
skirt: thrifted
boots: men's cowboys, eBay)

Italia Mia

Ah, Gina Lollobrigida. It's been a while since I thrifted any books, but when I was out gallavanting the other day, I couldn't resist bringing this one home. My original plan was to cut out some of the pictures and use them for collages, but I feel so sacreligious when I do that I'm not sure if I'll be able to bring myself to do it.

But how gorgeous is the italiana in the second-last picture? She reminds me of a Tretchikoff, or a J.H Lynch. I'd much rather cut her out and put her in a nice frame than leave her trapped in a book...

Bedlam

boudoir
Originally uploaded by fleur_delice

This bedspread is a recent op-shop gem - I've been vaguely admiring pretty gold and pink ones that seem to be popping up on 'interiors' blogs lately, so I was pretty darned excited to find this one in my favourite deep turquoise colour. Salvo's has gone back to the '$10 linen bag' deal, i.e. you can fill an enormous garbage bag with as much stuff from the linen corner as you want for no more than $10. Thank goodness, as they've started charging insanely high amounts for everything else (today I saw a lamp for $100 and a vintage dress for $80. Clearly Salvo's is having an identity crisis and thinks it's an upmarket retro boutique).

I feel like I've been such a lame blogger lately. Our computer conked out a few days ago, and the laptop Pat hooked up to my screen doesn't have any of my photos on file. However, I was able to work out (a mighty feat, for someone with my severe lack of computer dexterity) that I can actually blog from my Flickr account! I may never even go back to my old ways...

PS: more apologies, the awful title puns are continuing.

Feeling a bit damp

Or rather I was feeling a bit damp, after more than two weeks of fairly solid rain. Not that I'm against rain (and it was most welcome after our recent monster dust storm), but I only like it for so long, and then I get a bit cagey, which in turn makes me cranky.

And I didn't want to be a big ol' cranky blogger. So here are some pretty pictures instead - it pretty much sums up what I do when trapped inside by the rain, baking and tea. And finding cute teapots at the op-shop ;-)

Sweet holy mother of the thrift gods!

The laws of op-shopping have been confounding me lately. It seems that every time I am in the presence of a fellow thrifter and the conversation steers to our mutually-loved pastime, I bemoan the current lack of decent clothing (heck, I've even done it here!) and then get nostalgic for 'the good old days' where I could snatch up silk smoking jackets and geometric shift dresses for under $5, and where Miller's Fashion Club was a mere lurking presence rather than the evil behemoth we now know it to be.

However, it would appear that my laments have had the opposite effect to that which I would have expected. Instead of being brutally smote for my lack of faith, I am being rewarded with some sweet finds...

In town with my little bro T-Bone last week, we ducked into one of our preferred secondhand haunts so that he could look for shirts. Idly sifting through the dresses while he was in the change room, I realised that there was some potential on that thar rack. Several hurried clothing changes later, I emerged with these four dresses:





(Someone woke up mid-photo-shoot)



I nearly lost my lunch when I realised what a gem that last one is. It looks as though it's been handmade, and someone has done the most beautiful job of it, lining it and all.


And the print, my word, that print! Very Temple of the Sun (have I been making Baboushka watch Tintin so that I can watch it too? Yes. Yes I have). I think I have found my life's mission - to discover the maker of that fabric. If anyone knows how I could do this, I will be eternally grateful and (may even rustle up a present of some kind... if, you know, the thrift gods are feeling benevolent).

Art-teacher Chic

Okay, I'm coining it before anyone else does. We've had some verging-on-the-ridiculous prefixes to 'chic' in the past (Recession-chic? Military-chic? Homeless-chic?!), so I'm just throwin' it out there.

What is this 'Art-teacher Chic' I speak of? Well, er, it's what I would use to answer the question, "how would you describe your style?", which, now that I have an answer for it, I doubt I'll ever be asked. But you know what I'm on about, surely - those style-related questionnaires that also ask, "What was your last purchase?" and "If you could take just 3 items of clothing to a deserted island, what would you take?", etc.


(Chances are I wouldn't take bright turquoise tights. Maybe garments made of soy fibre or some such, so I could eat them.)

Invariably, they ask you to describe your own style, and I'm stumped. Bookish-Hammer-pant-wearer? It's-laundry-day-and-all-I-have-is-this-Deniliquin-tshirt? But now I have it. Despite the fact that I'm not an art teacher, or any kind of teacher (yet), I think my bird's-nest topknot, mismatched op-shop booty and penchant for bright Pantone-esque hues would be quite at home in a paint-splattered classroom.


(These shoes are one of about three pairs I've managed to find in an op-shop, like, and which actually fit. They are mens', of course. Damned ogre-feet.)

Limoges love

When on an op-shop mish these days, I tend not to look at the clothes much. I used to bring home some real gems, most of which I still wear and some that I will never be able to get rid of despite not being able to fit into them any more. (This is, of course, why I had a daughter - to pass them on to her ;-))

The last few times I've sifted through the nasty, synthetic stuff (why is it all from Millers 'Fashion' Club??), I have only come across more of the same. No hidden gems, nothing I could even be paid to wear. Once upon a time this saddened me, but these days my attentions are drawn elsewhere: to the two long, shining shelves of bric-a-brac (laaaaaaaaaaa!). I've recently had to impose a ban whereby I do not bring home any more cute teacups or Johnson Bros plates.

Here is some of my favourite loot - Limoges-looking plates and saucers in pretty gelato hues:





Oh, and tablecloths! This lovely linen one has been awarded official 'good' status - I'm slightly terrified of using it unless it is a special occasion that does not involve beets or red wine..





Just look at that detail! I cannot believe I was able to buy it for all of $3, when someone has clearly put in many hours of work and a lot of effort.

Snow hat

Up to Bowral we went on Sunday. To the charmingly ramshackle farmhouse of one of Pat's aunts to eat sponge cake and date scones. Baboushka had a lovely time with her cousins (well, second cousins, but really..), and we stayed toasty inside while gazing at the cold, dry fields outside. Actually, it wasn't that cold (hence flimsy blouse)...but my snotty nose made it seem that way..




Mohair beanie: vintage, thrifted
Top: from mum (think she wore it as a bridesmaid to one of her sisters' wedding?)
Skirt: secondhand Country Road, Smith Family
Riding boots: secondhand, eBay

Sibling times!

Even though I miss my brothers like mad when I or any of them are living far away, the rad times and crazy hijinks we enjoy when all four of us are together are worth it. I love them to bits and I'm lucky that three of us are currently in the same neighbourhood, and our fourth brother is only a cheap flight away in Brisbane.

He was down for the week and it was lovely, and the icing on that cupcake was that two of his housemates, fabulous Irish girls, came along as well! We all went out on Friday night, I had a few cheeky beers (not sure how that fits in with No-Buy July, but I reasoned that they were food) and we caught up for brunch in the park the next morning.


(Chatting to pram-riding, park-ready Baboushka)

Baboushka's uncles took her on the slippery dip and the Irish girls sang her songs while I enjoyed my coffee, buttery fruit toast and vanilla-malt milkshake. Hence my dress-over-jeans combo - I tend to over-indulge when I go to our local bakery and this was one of my favourite pregnancy dresses ;-)

long-sleeved tee: Country Road, thrifted
vintage cotton dress: eBay
jeans: sass&bide, secondhand from eBay
belt: thrifted

No-Buy July - Week 2: Anger, Bargaining

Even though July only started last Tuesday, I am embarrassed to admit that it's already making me cranky. We had Stage One: Denial last week when I was completely ignorant to the fact that July had already started, and had a little op-shop frenzy. Eeep.

I recently went through Stage 2: Anger. Suddenly I was reminded of all the things I want to buy, whether I 'need' them (new trainers, more socks) or not (vintage summer dresses despite the fact that it's currently winter - I blame the likes of Strawberry Koi and other lovely vintage bloggers!). Plus, I have two birthday presents to buy - one for my brother Mont, the other for Pat. Both want gadget-y things for their computers, which I may or may not be able to find secondhand.

I seem to have arrived at Stage 3: Bargaining, and, in the interest of preserving my sanity, I have declared this a Compacting July, whereby I abstain from buying anything new and/or unnecessary. So food-type groceries are allowed, as are a present each for Pat and Mont, and if Baboushka has one of her radioactive growth-spurts I'll source baby clothes from the op-shop.


No-Buy July has not been all denial and crankyness, however; I have banned myself from a purchasing a number of things, like takeaway coffees and food in packets like oats and rice, and I will continue my prohibition of these items even after July is over. We're lucky to have a local shop where we can buy things like pulses, nuts and cereals by weight and bring them home in our own containers (we use the giant glass jars of artichoke hearts we get from the same shop), and there's a co-op at the university that does this as well.

It's so much nicer to shop at these places than at Coles or Woolies, as well. Last week I had a great conversation at the nut shop with a guy who'd studied French at Berkeley - he wanted to know if I thought wearing hats would make him look 'rakish' - and the ladies who work there are quite enamoured of Baboushka. Plus, they stock Samir's falafel and sahlep. I love Samir's!

Oh, Róisín!

I can't quite think what went through my mind when I purchased this on a whim a few weeks ago:



It was probably around the witching hour, I was probably feeding Baboushka and browsing eBay at the same time, sleep and sanity were probably lacking. But I have a sneaking suspicion that this fine lady may have had something to do with it:


Róisín! You crazy, tight-sweatered minx, you! Of course I would have seen a picture of you sporting a futuristic confection from Gareth Pugh and come to the conclusion that I needed something similar!

So, while scanning eBay for well-priced (ie, under $20), hardy jackets to shield me from winter's impending chill, a cherubic, winged-Róisín appeared up on my right shoulder. On the other shoulder, a drab, beige-clad, clip-board-wielding Róisín popped up. And, well, Angel Róisín won.

It arrived a few days ago (with a heart-decorated note from a friendly, anonymous neighbour, saying it had landed on his/her doorstep last month. Thanks, neighbour!). I feel kind of like a futuristic matador from the Wild West when I wear it, so it probably won't be as versatile as I'd been hoping for in a jacket. But it fits p.e.r.f.e.c.t.l.y and makes me feel like a kooky Irish singer, so practicality be damned!

Ode to op-shopped furniture..

This is my lounge room. Well, half of it. Or maybe just a corner...anyway:

The sideboard was from my favourite op-shop, and at $120 I think it is the most I've ever paid for a piece of furniture. I saw it, decided to think about it for a day, and that night I had nightmares about other people buying it. I raced to the shop at 9am and almost peed with relief that it was still there.

The lamp...well, that's a nice little story, maybe I'll leave it for another post. The armchair was a side-of-the-road find (there are actually two of them). While I was lugging them home on my back, heavily pregnant and in the middle of summer (not a good idea), a carload of young males drove past, stopped to drop a friend off, and drove away. And they say chivalry is dead!!

My photos don't even come close to showing just how lovely the dark wood is, nor the pretty bakelite handles. The Ladurée bag came home from Paris with my mum, complete with a box of delectable macaroons, and is a daily reminder that I should..erm, eat more macaroons..

On top of the dresser live some of my favourite botanical and marine curiosities. The triangular thing is a piece of coral my brother The Yeti brought back from Thailand, and I drew the crayfish myself!

And my little collection of butterflies. I had found all three of them, already dead, and so my mum got me this box to keep them in. Behind is a bowlful of Pat's origami.

This is the first 'proper' artwork I ever owned, created by one of my outrageously talented aunts.

The Parker coffee table *sigh*. I fell in love with it's Danish good looks and $30 price tag (same op-shop as the sideboard). Only when we got it home did we discover the Parker stamp, which, brand-snob that I am, made me love it more.

(a close up of the strip of rad-patterned barkcloth on the coffee table.)

Maybe one day I'll get around to tidying the other half of the room..

PS: How hot is our carpet?!

Australiana (+ my favourite colour)

Today on Thriftin':

A recent op-shop mish uncovered such treasures as an old Arnott's tin, a blue enamel, er, implement for heating milk (and re-heating coffee!), a light green Woods Ware teacup,

...and four pretty turquoise teacups, two sandwich plates (one a Grindley),

...and two Australiana linen teatowels

Bye-bye, lovely weather

This is from about two weeks ago - we decided to enjoy the unseasonably delightful weather by going for a stroll through the local botanical gardens. I forgot the camera, but Pat dutifully took some pictures of us back at home, basking in the last of the daylight. For some reason, I'd decided to make an effort and replaced my usual shorts and thongs with my new high-waisted jeans and espadrille wedges (thank you to Pat for recording this rare event). Actually, neither of those were actually new - due to my being allergic to paying RRP for anything (except, possibly, milk and bread) I got them off eBay.

Now, the weather is looking more like this:


Ooh, some more autumnal shots. If you look closely, I think there is a rosella right in the centre..

And now, off to Bowral again. Brrrr...

Elephant Boy

St Pat and I have been taking a heck of a lot of photos of late, so I'll stick them up with appropriate commentary and that should get the mojo back..


Last week, us three bundled up and went up to Bowral to visit Pat's lovely mother. The Southern Highlands are just beautiful this time of year, but, mild-weathered coast-dweller that I am, I'm not used to the cold. However, this means that I have an excuse to wear my favourite coat of all time (a $20 op-shop splurge. I remember being hesitant due to the hefty price tag; thank the gods that good sense prevailed). To date, the only other place it has seen frequent wear is mid-winter France.


We (well, I - Pat and his mum have part-anti-freeze blood, and Baboushka was swaddled in so many layers she resembled a beach ball) braved the icy cold and walked into town to Elephant Boy, a marvellous cafe with book-lined walls and coffee served in bowls.


We also journeyed to The Cheese Store for some raclette (yay, winter!), and I did a bit of thrifting (sadly, not much was uncovered, just a few books).

Back at the homestead, we got cosy in front of the old stove and drank tea and knitted and chatted and ate sticky date cake from the Gumnut Bakery (apparently, their motto is "Life's short - eat dessert first". Ah, a bakery after my own heart!)




We'll be back there next week - I'm working at the Bowral Art School for the first time. Good God I hope they have powerful heating..