Dressing Blind

You're forgiven for thinking I've been sewing in the dark, or at least choosing my colours while blindfolded.
In the case of this little number, surprisingly neither is the case.
It's my Franken-top, made of leftover cotton fabrics from other projects, using a pattern I op-shopped for 50 cents.
I'm so pleased with it and it's so comfortable, I've been wearing it every other day.

If only I paid as much attention to my roots as my sewing projects eh?

The Stylist and I went to see Maleficent just over a week ago, well before we needed to pile on lovely warm layers.
It's school holidays now, so we can operate at a slightly slower pace for the next fortnight.
After the screening at Southbank I took the lassie for a wander over the Brisbane River to have a sticky beak at Brisbane's heritage-listed Treasury Building.
It now operates as a casino and we couldn't go inside to check out the beautiful interior together because of age restrictions.
So we snapped off some pics and made a bee-line for the nearest stationery shop to top up our stocks, then escape the people-herding confines of the CBD.

If you're here in Oz, I hope you're enjoying the cold snap.
Welcome winter!
Linking up to Patti's Visible Monday.
Love, D x

How Very Grand!

As a highly fashionable, in-demand, stylish, social butterfly, my diary is rammed with appointments, invitations and A-list events where I score tons of free shit.
I often forget to tend to things boring people do like wash my hair, trim my pubes, pluck my brows and turn on the dishwasher.
So yesterday when The Stylist and I decided we needed to make a show of being super-ordinary and do something other than homework, colouring-in and ignoring the dirty washing pile, we dropped everything and went to see The Grand Budapest Hotel.
We couldn't make it to the premiere opening because I was soaking my bras that night so better late than never eh?

I had about two inches of regrowth to blitz on Friday night so thought I'd may as well put a few drops of pink hair dye in the conditioner.
I have a very short attention span and a bit of old-lady-memory-loss, which is an interesting combination - I often get quite a fright in the morning as I stumble to the loo after a night spent with the dye bottle.
Beats a hangover.

Ain't she cute?  And looking grown up? Eeeeek!

Wool beret - Etsy

1920s men's tailcoat - eBay

Red Nose Day tshirt and "Perfect" badge - gifts from fabulous Tralala!

"FREEK" necklace - custom made by Bones Couture

1980s earrings and 1950s ostrich-skin bag - second hand

Green necklace - market

Leggings - Black Milk

Boots - retail

Oh and the hair?  I mixed about a teaspoon of Manic Panic's Hot Hot Pink with a cup of conditioner and left it in for about 40 minutes.

I made the biggest roast pork in history with impressive crackling like leather straps and burnt my hand on the oven.  Worth it.

I wanted to look like a lobby boy and I think I could have pulled it off if it wasn't for the handbag.  

In other news, I finished off a dress for The Stylist.
Now we can be matching. 
The fabric is a cotton sheet and the pattern (dated 1974) - both from op shops.
It's a bit wide in the bodice and shoulders, but it's my first go in making something for the wee lassie in a while.
I wanted the dress to be big enough to wear in a couple of years if she wants, even if she ends up spray painting, studding or shredding it in ironic teen defiance.
I think the puffy sleeves are damn impressive.
I do love a puffy sleeve don't you?

Oh and this is the pattern (also dated 1974) I used to make these two frocks.
Clearly it was a very stylish year.

The Purple-Rinse Set

I gave you a sneak peak of my purple-rinse in the last post shortly after The Stylist cut and coloured my hair.
Yes, I let my 11-year-old daughter do my hair.
I think she does a lovely job and it's a great confidence booster for her to be given carte blanche with my mop.
I hope it's a fun way for her to learn some small aspects of responsibility - especially with the rather serious task of ladies' hairstyling.
I've given up on hairdressers.
In the past 15 years, my favourites have either become so successful they can charge prices I refuse to pay, or they've gone completely insane.
Must be the chemicals.
I'm not precious, so I've been cutting my own hair for the past four years and I couldn't be happier.
I'd rather spend the money I've saved on a yummy treat for the kids or something nice for  The Phoenix.

Notice I didn't mention buying something for me?
No, I'm not being a martyr, I'm just trying to get my wardrobe under control, which means this year's long, hard look at my collection has become an extended project.
I'm focussing on finding new ways to wear things I've owned for a long time, being realistic about what I feel good in, cherishing the things I love, trying out things I haven't worn for a long time to see if I still like them and most of all, finding new ways to wear old shite.
If I can't wear it anymore, it goes.

Did I mention I broke the car?  Long story, not going there, so it's the bus for now to run daily chores.
Today #3 Son, The Stylist and I caught the bus to town and public transport means comfortable clothes are a priority for me.
But I'm not about to surrender my personality for comfort.
I never know what my beady eyes will spy at the op shops and I want to be prepared to lug a chair home on the bus if I simply must have it.
Today it was a Frida Kahlo lamp and a hand-painted cushion in addition to sundry op shop bargains.

No driver would dare refuse Frida entry.

Dashiki tunic, earrings, 1950s handbag - op shops

Sequin belt - gift from lovely Claire

Leggings - Black Milk

Shoes - Dolls Kill sale

Day of the Dead necklace - craft market

Sunnies - Etsy

Peace man.
D x

The Wind Will Change and Your Face Will Stay Like That

I was sitting across from The Stylist this afternoon.
She looked me up and down and piped up, "That's pretty over the top even for you Mum."
I guess I did look slightly OTT for a wander down to the servo for a loaf of bread.

Yesterday I did a thing with my hair.
I mixed a couple of teaspoons of Manic Panic's Violet Night into a handful of conditioner and spread it through my hair.
Hello Mrs Slocombe!

We sat down for a coffee at a nearby takeaway joint and people gassing up their vehicles copped an eyeful of two mad-looking wenches.
Clearly, from the reactions it was a bit much for a nondescript, mid-afternoon Sunday, but it will give them something to mull over for the rest of the day.
If I displease or shock then too bad, I'm shocked by the overwhelming number of people who look like clones.

Lips earrings - Bones Couture

Sequinned top - gift from dear Heather

Massive gangsta necklace - gift from gorgeous Ada

1940s slip - eBay

1950s handbag - op shop score

Shoes - flea market, now in the bin coz I HATE walking in them.

Two days ago I ran out of milk so off I trotted ... 

1950s coat - flea market
1930s satin nightie - Etsy
Tassel necklace and silk scarf - op shops
Melissa shoes - shopped by dear Suzanne
Earrings - Bones Couture

Several days ago I decided to dress for urban guerrilla battles circa 1937.
The Stylist took these rather creative photos.  
I swear that girl is going places with a camera.

Vintage beret - Etsy

Silk scarf - op shop

"Perfect" badge - gift from lovely Tralala

Cotton shirt - nicked it off The Phoenix

1950s men's trousers - eBay

Doc Marten boots - retail

I'm linking up to Sacramento's awesome thingy.
Love,
Desiree xoxoxo

I Haven't a Square To Spare

My wardrobe choices are dwindling.
And it's not only because I've been having a relentless sort-out to separate the worn from the unworn in my sprawling wardrobe.
I've banged on 10kg in the past three months and I have very little to wear anymore.
I simply don't have a square to spare!

The situation is under control.
Ditching Lithium from my medication regime and getting back to three classes a week of Bikram Yoga has been the most wonderful thing for my brain and hopefully soon, my bodeh.
But you know what?
I've realised I have loads of things I absolutely love wearing to bits.
And the things I'm not bothered about, well, I never really was bothered about them too much and selling or passing on things I can't see myself wearing again has been wonderful therapy.
I'm on the LAST hook of this shiny rainbow skirt and my Der Kuss-print swimsuit is a little bigger than my others, while the bed jacket is pretty much something I can wear anytime.
Shoes?  Jewellery? Bags? Well you can wear or use them at any size.

Vintage bedjacket - Etsy

Klimt swimsuit - Black Milk

Skirt and bag - Aid for the Blind op shop

Pink spike bracelet - gift from babelicious Vix

"FREEK" necklace - custom made by Bones Couture

Green vintage earrings - Christmas present from hubby

Shoes - Melissa sale

Number Three Son snapped these pics off before I took him to get some Saturday night fish and chips on the waterfront.

No, Mama didn't have any. 

She had her homemade Magic Soup, a vegetable soup with a whole bulb of garlic in it, a delicious, warm concoction that I put The Phoenix on to help him successfully lose 30+kg in 2012-13.

Sic F*cks tshirt - gift from the Manic Panic chicks

Flares - DIY using a cotton sheet and a pattern from sweet Tamera

Pink skull bracelet - gift made by delicious Krista

Granny beads and green necklace - op shops and market

Creepers - Dolls Kill sale

Globe earrings - eBay

The Stylist had savings burning a whole in her pocket and I took her shopping today wearing nuns on the top and ballerinas on the bottom.
I had a gift voucher and used it to buy a diary, part of my resolution to write more journal scribblings.
It started in the new year when I bought a little book called A Sentence A Day, which is part of The Happiness Project, where I answer a new question every day for three years.
To compliment the book, I've got small paper A5 journals where I expand upon my sentence-a-day thoughts.
I'm really enjoying it and along with hot yoga at 38 degrees, it's helping to control some of my Bi-Polar Disorder swings.
Oh I had a shed-load of sun spots zapped this week, eek!!
The backs of my hands are a mess at the moment but they're healing nicely.

Did you make any new year changes and how's that going for you?
Big hugs, 
Desiree