Monday, December 30, 2013

I've got the renovation blues. Big time.

We are in the mist

 (not a typo - although fog would be a better word.  Think pea-souper*, that'll give you the right idea)

of a renovation dis-ARSE-ter!!! (this is not a typo either in case you were wondering...)

And it all sounded so good...ON PAPER!

We have been without a proper bathroom for close to three months, washing in a bucket outside for almost two (apart from a glorious four day respite which we had to put an end to because we discovered our new taps were leaking into the adjoining laundry wall). As I type I have absolutely no idea of when our "7 - 10 day job" will be finished, and I'm starting to get just a bt cross.

Do you get that?

Christmas, and the weeks leading up to it mostly sucked (due to the above). There were no decorations at our place, no merry-making either, just misery - and the smell of the great unwashed! 
'Pollyanna' (that'll be me, ha-ha!) has left the building. That's fo sho!

My Mum always told me "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" so I won't go into details. Yet. I might, if I'm pushed. I will say however, making your tradie lates, picking up his dog's poop (sometimes having to scrape it off the leaves of your Liriopes and continental Parsley!), positioning a fan directly in front of him so that he can work in comfort - I could go on (and on!) here - does not necessarily guarantee that you are going to get a good or timely result!

So there you have it. What I've been up to since my last post. Grand Designs on a budget, but just as upsetting. There are worse things in life (I know, I've been through them), but at the moment, shallow as it makes me sound, it doesn't feel like it. 

Rant over. Thanks for reading. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead - I'm determined to have one, all of the above aside.

Wondering if I should hit the publish button...

Damn it I'm going to! It'll make me feel better - even if it's only for a little while.

Kylie

xxx

* pea-souper
piːˈsuːpə(r)/
noun
BRIT.informal
  1. 1.
    a very thick yellowish fog.
    "he was alone in one of London's infamous pea-soupers"


p.s. I've just started to muck around a tiny bit on instagram. I don't know how to find you, or how you find me, what tagging is, anything really(!), but for what it's worth my instagram thingy has the same name as my blog...I'd love to follow you if you make it easy for me...


Monday, December 23, 2013

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Anthony:

great taste in chairs,

(no fancy, retro Instagram filters involved here - this is the real deal)

Women Woman (obviously, ha-ha!),

and Australian Pottery.

Feast your eyes on the contents of a little pressie he gave me few
days ago:

1960's/1970's Eric Juckert dish
 
(there's a United Nations of pottery on our sidey. Handsome Germans, good-looking Italians, your Nana's pottery class rejects - they're all welcome at our place!)
 
look at that beautiful ox blood coloured glaze
 
1960's/1970's Eric Juckert vase
 
(I picked up the little boy mould at a local oppy a couple of days ago. Creepy? I don't think so, although others do...) 
 
this piece has a gorgeous olive green underglaze beneath the black
 
Lucky girl aren't I?!
 
Anth bought them from Australian Pottery at Bemboka. They've got a very nice Ellis Charger for sale as I type (and a small cat too btw - everyone loves these at the moment) If you're interested, you can see them here.
 
The Rameking has written a very informative post about Eric Juckert here if you would like more info.
 
I have also gone crazy (to the tune of fifty cents!) and bought myself a little pressie of the pottery variety -
 
the little mustard vase on the left. I'm not sure if it's W.German or a wanna be?
 
It's got the right texture and I love the colour, so who care's right?!
 
(another multi-cultural still-life, this time on our kitchen table)
 
Thanks for reading.
 
After Frocktober, I feel like I'm starting this blog all over again. From the beginning...I'll plod along for a while and see how I go. The heart is willing, the brain? well, that's another matter. Entirely.
 
 
x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
  

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Frocktober Honour Roll


Before I sign-off for a while,

(I will pop back down the track to show you our kitchen reno Mel - and our bathroom and laundry when they're finally finished too! I've decided to continue blogging although somewhat sporadically, instead of out and out quitting like I did a couple of months ago. I've really enjoyed 'chatting' to you all again, and I'd miss you if I stopped completely)

I would like to say thank-you to all of the lovely people who sponsored my Frocktober effort. They are (in no particular order):

Gillian, Lea, Jay, Sally, Rachel, Donna, Anita, Fiona, Sian, Patti, Annie, Claire (NZ), Leisa, Helga, Hannapat, Rebecca, Vanessa, Sarah (WA), Bernice, Tania, Julianne, Nelly (Vic), Angie, Nadya, Jane, Linda, Imogen, Mel, Max, Terry and Maryse, Daisy, Claire (UK), Nelly (WA), Gaye, Pippa, Sally, Bron, Carmel, Anne, Sandy, Sarah, Sue, Tove, Dana, Curtise, Gaye (my sister), Woolfy, Tam, Vicki, Zara, Tanya, Claire O, Adelaide (my gorgeous daughter), Vicky, Megan, Al, Loo and Anth.

I hope I haven't missed anyone. Please let me know if I have and I will add your name to the list.

Posing in front of my Dad's broad bean crop in my tutu-esque first holy communion dress, 1972. I got in so much trouble for getting my socks dirty.
 
I would also like to thank:
 
the frock shoppers: Lea, Julianne, Allana, Vicky and Em.
 
my gorgeous Guest Frocksters: Georgia-Rose, Nelly, Curtise, Vanessa, Helga, Julianne, Donna, Dana, and Sue.
 
my beautiful Prom Queens: Al, Carmel and Pippa.
 
My sister Tricia and I, frocked-up for flower girl duties, 1971.
 
the sharers: ace fellow bloggers for spreading the word and sharing a link back to mine: Julianne, Donna, Pippa, Linda, Carmel, Vanessa, Curtise, Claire, Gillian, Sally, Anne, Georgia-Rose, Tove, Al and Eilis.
 
and my photographers (sometimes make-up artistes): Anth, Adelaide and Annabel.
 
 
So Frocktober's done and dusted.
 
Wearing a frock a day and dabbing a bit of lippy on was easy. Having my photo taken (and publishing it) was (and still is) challenging, but your supportive comments and generous donations made it much easier. At the end of the day we raised a lot of money for research into ovarian cancer. 2000 bucks. We did good, and I couldn't have done it without you. Thanks guys x

Bridesmaid, 1976. Check that carpet!
 
I'll end with this quote from Annie Hall (1977):
 
"Love is too weak a word for what I feel - I luuurve you, I loave you, I luff you"    
 
Alvy Singer (Woody Allen)
 
p.s. if you decide to frock-up for Frocktober next year, I've got your back, okay.
 
 


Thursday, October 31, 2013

Frocktober Day Thirty One


My last hurrah. Hooray!

Lots of photos for you today. Lucy Violet Vintage Honour Roll (thank-you's) tomorrow. 

Every fashion parade ends (or it did in those glorious technicolour flicks of the 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's) with a beautiful bride walking down the catwalk. Usually she's surrounded by a bevy of pretty bridesmaids decked out in rainbow coloured frocks. Sometimes her dress 'morphs' into a gigantic wedding cake and she ends up standing on the top tier. The audience goes crazy, the orchestra revs up a crescendo, the girl gets her man, and it's over. A bit like Frocktober really...

So in honour of all those glamorous Hollywood model brides, my last Frocktober fashion parade (ahem!), and Halloween, I give you my
 
zombie bride! 
  I've got music to create a spooooky atmosphere
 
(I love this song. Listen to it loudly!)
 
 
  
 
All I can think of is -  this is how I'm going to look if I don't get my roots done! Now that is scary!
 
(make-up and photos by Annabel)
 
Even though this is my last hurrah, don't be afraid to sponsor me. Your donation will help fund research into developing an early detection test for ovarian cancer. Early detection is key if we want women (the women we love) to survive this insidious disease. Remember one in ten, people. That's one woman dying from ovarian cancer every ten hours! Please sponsor me here.
 
As I type my our Frocktober fund has raised a whopping
 
$1945.00!
 
WOW!
 
I'm lost for words...
 
x
 
 
p.s. thanks for your recent donations Susan, Jay, and Lea, and for purchasing the fifties frock Julianne x
 
 
 
Newsflash! Newsflash! Newsflash! Newsflash!
 
I just got home to discover that lovely Gillian (aka Librarygirl) has sponsored me again (that makes twice!) which means we've raised $ 2000.00. OMG I am so excited and so grateful! It means such a lot to me. All of your donations mean a lot to me, but to hit 2k, well, that's just spectacular! Thank-you Gillian x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Frocktober Day Thirty

Prom Night
 
"At the prom night? Everything is alright!"
 
 
Cue music
 
go on, hit play.
 
because they weren't quite as many of you brave enough to share your prom pics as I thought there would be...chickens! I'm taking you back to 1980, when the original (and the best!) Prom Night teen slasher flick was released, to pad things out a bit. I hope you don't mind...there will be taffeta and tulle a plenty before the end of this post, I promise.
 
I was 15 when I saw Prom Night. At the local drive-in. I was the third wheel with my, let's call her...well developed, friend at the time
 
There was no shaggin in the waggin (and yes, the boy concerned did drive a panel van) involving me anyway. I can assure you of that! I was the perfect foil to my gregarious friend, who only invited me to tag along, so her Mum would let her go.
 
Anyway it* scared the you-know-what out of me!
 
*Prom Night, not the shaggin in the waggin - although that was pretty scary too!
 
Basically Prom Night tells the story of a group of high school seniors who are targeted by an unknown (yeah right!) killer seeking revenge for their involvement in the death of a young girl (can't tell you who, don't want to spoil the surprise!) six years earlier. Most of the action - the blood and guts and stuff - occurs on the night of their prom.
 
Here's the trailer 
 
 
Recently I saw a copy of Prom Night in a discount bin at the shops. It was only $4.99 so I decided to buy it and relive old memories. I got the girls to watch it with me, telling them it was really, really scary. This has made them think I'm even lamer than they originally thought, because of course it wasn't scary at all! But it was BRILLIANTLY FUNNY! Lou's severed head (tomato sauce anyone?!) rolling across the dance floor, classic!
Bad hair, flares, a flashing dance floor, Leslie Neilson (attempting to play a straight guy), a character called Slick (who isn't!) Prom Night's got it all! You could do worse on a Friday night if you've got nothing better to do.
 
Anyway, enough padding (this is turning into a really long post - I hope I haven't lost you?) back to Frocktober and the really scary stuff..taffeta galore!
.
Meet The Prom Queens
 
Allison (and her spunky partner Rodney) at her school formal 1988.
 
Isn't she a vision in black velvet and "gold garbage bags"? Al's description, that fantastic gold stuff is really "some exotic man-made (and probably highly flammable, Al) material"
 
Al saw this dress in an issue of Women's Day in a feature where the frocks were modelled by the cast of Neighbours (love that Al!) Of course she had to have it and she still does! Al is hoping it might be in fashion again by the time her gorgeous little girl Frankie attends her own formal. Ummmmm? Goodluck with that one Al!
 
Al writes the hilarious and very pretty blog Just Underneath.  When I think of her, the words "top Aussie shelia" come to mind. Al's a bit of a larrikin, a bit of a stirrer, who likes to take the mick (I think Al would prefer p***!). I never read her blog without laughing. Do yourself a favour and check it out!
 
Do you know who this bob-headed, drop-waisted, puffy sleeved wearing vision of loveliness is? She doesn't show herself very often on her blog, but if I mentioned teak furniture, Bitossi, Marimekko, 70's homes and gardens, the Solid Gold Dancers, you'd pick her immediately, right?!
 
It's Carmel (aka MMMC) of 70's Chutzpah, frocked up for her formal in 1988. I reckon she looks like Head Girl material in this pic (a fact she denies vehemently), but Carmel reckons she looks like she's about belt out a few show tunes (there was a better pic of this, but it came out all blurry when I tried to upload it) - she says all she's missing is a cane and top hat!
Apart from Carmel's frock, which is pretty special, and Carmel herself of course, I am also taken with that stripey curtain she's posing so nicely in front of...
 
Carmel's blog is a must read as far as I'm concerned. I love it! Carmel's got class, she's got style, she's got chutzpah, but she's not the nanny! Read it.
 
Now, who could this wistful looking, sweet young thing be?
 
(and no, it's not Lucy waiting by the lamp post for Mr Tumnus, or a cast member from Riverdance...)
 
it's the Pipstar frocked up like a little pixie for her Year 11 social in 1992 (you make me feel so old Pippa)
 
Pippa didn't want to look the same as everyone else so she bought this vintage dress from the oppy, shortened it and "painstakingly sewed beads on the hem, sleeves and collar" Exactly what you'd expect from a creative like Pippa, right?!
 
Pippa makes beautiful things from string and clay. Her tassels are famous - sought after by the who's who of interiors (and by us ordinary folk), her macramé, fresh and exciting.
 
She is also one of the nicest people I'm yet to meet.
 
OMG! I've written a bloody novel, not a blog post!
 
I'll end with a photo of me at my Year 12 Social in 1982
 
and a quote from Prom Night which describes the evening perfectly:
 
"Tonight someone has come to the prom alone..."
 
(well, at least I had my besties)
 
 
One day of Frocktober to go.
 
Please sponsor me HERE.
 
Rachel, Donna and Brismod answered my prayers yesterday (thanks girls x).
 
That's $1795.00 all up so far. Wow!
 
(someone please throw five bucks at me!)
 
Thank you. I am very grateful x
 
p.s. I'm the one wearing tartan taffeta - in case you didn't know...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 



 
 
 
 
  


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Frocktober Day Twenty Nine


Hallelujah, the end is nigh!

This is my third last post for Frocktober and I've got two words for you

(with apologies to Lucas Grogan)

I'm so unco(ol) I couldn't get my pinky to stick out straight!
 
(much to the amusement of Annabel who begrudgingly took today's photos)
 
Today's frock is like Stacey's Mom - it's got it (all) goin' on!
 
(Stacy's Mom, Fountains of Wayne, 2003)
 
shoulder pads - check
pleated skirt - check
draped neckline - check
peplum waist - check
glittery ode to disco on one of the shoulders - check
(unfortunately you can't see this in the photos because I forgot to do the back button up and it kept slipping off my shoulder and down my back)
sleeves (HALLELUJAH!) - check
 
While I'm shouting Hallelujah for sleeves (and the end of the month!) I think I'm gonna need some divine intervention to hit my (revised) target of raising $2000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.
 
Currently, thanks to all of your generous donations and the selling of a few frocks, I have raised $1670, which leaves a $330 short-fall. So please say a few Hail Mary's, or better still, sponsor me here.
 
Please don't wait for the Grande Finale. I'll say it again: please sponsor me here.
 
thank you x
 
p.s. thanks Allana for your recent frock purchase and donation x
 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Monday, October 28, 2013

Frocktober Day Twenty Eight


"Burn baby burn -

(it's a) disco inferno"
 
(The Trammps, 1976)
 
Today I'm wearing a beautiful vintage 70's dress by Landy's of Perth. It belonged to a lady whose house I used to clean to pay for the girls dancing lessons (costumes!) when they were little. She was pretty stylish in the early 2000's when I scrubbed her bathroom and hoovered her floors, and if this frock is any indication, she must've been blazin* back in the day, when she wore it to Pinocchio's. (nightclub here in Perth in the 70's)
 
 
trying my best (but failing miserably) to imitate one of those, so bad they're good, 70's crochet pattern books
 
 stiff. as. a. board!
 
(vintage 70's macramé mandala, found recently in a local op-shop)
 
Sorry, but I cannot bring myself to sell this one. It's got sleeves - it's a keeper! I do however have this little number for you to consider.
 
"so Frenchy so chic"
 
Masquerade, Mode de Paris. Polyester (but it mimics towelling?!) frock, size 14 (and it really is - I've just pulled the belt in tightly to cinch the waist).
 
Send me a note if you're interested. Remember postage is on me and your payment goes to my Frocktober fund. Speaking of which, it's been a quiet couple of days. I know you're tired of me. I'm tired of me, but please consider sponsoring me HERE. You might miss me when I'm gone...
 
Check you later x
 
*like on fire, ttly (totally) hip or hotttttt  (via)
 
p.s. last call for Prom Night photos if you're brave enough - I'm pencilling it in For Wednesday. Go on, I dare you!
 

 

 
  
 
  

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Frocktober Day Twenty Seven

 
Bonus Guest Frockster (that makes nine)
 
It was so nice when these photos of today's guest frockster popped up in my inbox yesterday. They were a God-send actually, which sounds pathetic I know, but if you knew how much I (still) hate having my photo taken, and the lengths I have to go to get one of the two little darlings to take a few snaps of me (now that Anth is away again), you might get where I'm coming from.  
 
Anyway, that's enough whinging from me. Meet my beautiful friend (and saviour) Sue from Perth, Western Australia,

(yep, finally a homie!)
   
and her pooch Nancy.
 
Sue describes herself as "a designer of sorts, rather obsessed with recreating the halcyon days of my idyllic 1970's childhood spent in the outer Eastern burbs of Melbourne"
 
 
If you can manage it - tear your eyes away from Sue's gorgeous smile (and her garden - of which I am insanely jealous!) for a sec, and focus on that frock. Sue calls it her Fernando frock. It's the real Mc Coy too, bought by her Mum Barb, from San Francisco's Fishing Boat Harbour, on a family holiday to the USA in 1974. It's a frock with provenance, gotta like that!
 
And (just in case you were wondering...) this is why Sue calls it her Fernando frock
 
image via

Sue and I are yet to meet, 
 
(although we have a big date planned next month when we are attending a Shannon Fricke interiors workshop together. We figure if we run out of things to say/hate each other on sight(!) we can focus on Shannon. Seriously, I am very excited about meeting Sue properly, and I reckon we'll get along like a house on fire. After all, what's not to love about someone who appreciates a good fart joke like Sue does?!)
 
I compare our friendship to a modern-day version of Helene and Frank's, except hopefully my appendix doesn't burst before we finally lay eyes on each other!
 
 
Frocktober's nearly done and dusted. Only five days to go. Frock yeah! Honestly, as the days have passed I am finding writing these posts a bit of a struggle (even with the assistance of my lovely guest frocksters), thanks for sticking with me, even though I know it's becomming a rough read. I really appreciate it.
 
I'll let Sue do the talking to fin "I wish for medical research to develop a simple early detection test for ovarian cancer available to all women"
 
Please sponsor me Here. Your donation will help Sue's wish (and mine) become a reality. Thank you x
 
p.s. last chance for Prom Night photos if you're brave enough - I'm pencilling it in For Wednesday. 
 
 

 
 
   
 
 


Saturday, October 26, 2013

Frocktober Day Twenty Six


me again

"As I stood and watched, You looked so neat
In your white bobby socks, clinging to your feet
With your white bobby socks, white bobby socks, Ah-Ha"
 
White Bobby Socks, Wally Lewis, 1958
 
(Never a hit, I wonder why?!)
 
I am wearing an authentic, handmade 50's frock, lacy bobby socks, and frilly 50's petticoat.
 
If you would like to make them yours send me a note. They are both for sale separately. The dress is in almost perfect condition apart from a tiny hole in the bodice - nothing a couple of stitches wouldn't fix (I can email a pic, if you're interested) It is tiny though - I'm an 8, and I just squeezed in!
 
The petticoat has pretty multi-coloured edging on the frills. It has an elastic waist and would fit anybody. It's very flouncy, flouncy.
 
(all proceeds to my Frocktober fund)
 
***SOLD***

 

its Peter Pan collar has been decorated with tiny little plastic rosebuds, diamantes, and faux pearls. Just beautiful. 


whirling dervish 50's style
 
Do you like my homemade Coke sign? I bought it at a swap meet a
couple of years ago for three bucks. It's very old, but unfortunately the bloke who sold it knew nothing about it's history. He found it in a pile of rubbish, as you do...
 
Not long to go now. Please sponsor me here if you can. It would "razz my berries" if you do.
 
 
Later x