Don't Pout, Get Ya Nips Out

I don't like it when folks lose their homes and personal belongings in natural disasters.
I don't like it when it's impossible for a clean-up to begin in ernest, flood waters linger, looters get greedy and spirits crumble.
It's scary to shuffle your children into safe rooms away from the threat of glass shattering by roofing iron and flying boughs.
It must be even scarier for the people of major regional towns to be rescued en masse from their roofs.

Spare a thought and maybe a penny for the thousands of homeless Queenslanders who've lost everything in the tornadoes, cyclonic winds and floods so many of us have experienced this week.
It's been such a sad time for so many.
And a rather frightening experience personally, what with living on top of a steep hill, spending nights listening to flying objects pass by and waiting, just waiting for our seven-metre wall of glass to shatter.
We're fine, but many aren't thanks to the mass fear and devastation delivered by Cyclone Oswald.

My attempt to try and raise some smiles today.
It worked.
I guess getting one's nips out will do that.

Headband - Sassy Vamps!

Red Nose Day VW t-shirt - gifted by darling Tra-la-la

1950s crinoline - Garterbelts and Gasoline Festival

Bangles, earrings, white crochet granny bag, purple beads - thrifted, gifted and bought from Vintage Wishes

Shoes - Jeffrey Campbell sale

Green handbag - Dandelion Vintage sale

We lost a tree and gained a few more grey hairs, but we're safe.
You can read more and donate to the Red Cross Flood Appeal here.
Baci,
Desiree xo

The Pretty Things are Going to Hell

No don't look at the hair, I had no idea the wind had blown the bejesus out of it.
But I must say it was a welcome cool breeze, so I wore the delicious 1970s nylon frock Mrs D of Hello the Mushroom sent me last week.
A perfect fit.
And gosh, a bit of tan-action going on there with all the swimming we've been doing this summer.

Summertime also means mosquitoes come a'flocking and I end up a'scratching, resulting in delightful join-the-dots scabs and scars.
Hmmmmm.

Evidence of lots of sea and sand: peeling toenail polish.
Meh!

Frock - gifted by Mrs D of Hello the Mushroom

Crochet bangle - art gallery bargain

Anklets - gifted by reader, Tra-la-la

All other jewellery - thrifted

Bag - craft market

VW Melissa wedges - Melissa sale

Well that was a few days ago.
Today I found this gorgeous print in the Salvos for $10, it's called The Ice Cream Vendor, by Huldah Cherry Jeffe (1901-2001).
I did a wee search on Huldah and many of her beautiful paintings depict exquisite red-cheeked Parisian lassies with huge sparkly eyes and bright red lips.
So charming.

I even love the crumbling frame.
I have a "thing" for imperfections, they convey warmth and a life well-lived.

The latest treasure joined my wall of portraits of women.
I've been collecting pictures of interesting female faces for about a decade now, I ran out of wall space long ago, yet I can't give it up.
I'm not interested in landscapes.
I love faces or paintings of furnished rooms: evidence of humanity.

My two Madonna's chat, debate and bicker constantly.
I bought the Vogue single from Nelly of Vintage Wishes.

This rather old and faded patchwork quilt covers up the sofa cushions that are getting tatty - just three bucks from Vinnies.

There seems to be an abundance of lovely old aprons in the op shops and I love this one of Australian wildflowers.
I picked up both the apron and gingham tablecloth for a couple of bucks from Vinnies.

No time for make-up today.
Not a scrap.
Only time to slide on this glorious 1960s slip I snapped up for a song from The Slipperie's Boxing Day sale.
It has embroidered flowers on the bodice and frill **faints**.

Another Etsy bargain, this time from Niddiebone; a 1930s fine silk bed jacket for just five bucks!
Yes I did scream with joy when I unwrapped it.

1960s rayon slip - Etsy, The Slipperie

1930s silk bed jacket - Etsy, Niddie's Rag and Bone Shop

Green skull necklace - craft market

1950s tapestry bag - gifted by my dear sister

Anklets - gifted by Tra-la-la

All other jewellery - thrifted

Shoes - as before

I hope you're hanging in there, you can do it, yes you can!
Love Desiree xo

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

Having a wee gander at the past year's posts, I'm humbled by the warmth, kindness, generosity, support and love from visitors to my blog.
I'm constantly amazed at the encouragement I get and feel so lucky to be part of an open-minded, welcoming community.
On countless occasions I've shed tears at comments and posts by fellow bloggers.
I may also have wee'd myself a little or a lot at the hilarity that often occurs in Blogland.

I rully love all of youse and if you'd like to do an about turn and stand to attention, I'm more than happy to give each of you a jolly good arse-squeeze.

Do take note of the snap fastener at my waist.
It kept popping open today because of course, I ate all the pies!
I decided it wasn't worth bothering about while out and about today because hell, I still felt fabulous.

Vintage petticoat - gifted by happy punter Helga von Trollop

Pink star necklace - gifted by gorgeous colour-coded slapper, Krista

Scrabble ring - gifted by lovely Nelly

Earrings and 1950s blue granny necklace - Etsy

Hindu goddess bag, cat brooch - craft market

Bangles, green rose brooch, other rings - thrifted

Shoes - eBay

Most of the shops were shut today, but the Salvos were open, where I satiated my need for a bargain splurge.

I found this gorgeous bead bag and immediately thought of Vintage Bird Girl who shares my lust for the colour GREEN!

I also found a cross-stitched linen tray mat and some gorgeous old ceramics.
The lemon vase has lost a petal and it's stem has broken off and been mended in the past, so clearly it was once much-loved; while the wee leaf dish is Carlton Ware (two bucks!)

Random pic of scallywag Lily, in a rare prone pose.

Have you been doing any post-Christmas shopping?
I'm feeling very smug about picking up a few bargains in Nelly's shop, Vintage Wishes.
The Stylist quickly snaffled this beautiful 1960s cotton quilt I bought from Nelly's treasure emporium.

I picked up these gorgeous 1970s kitsch cushion covers for our lounge ... 

... and this pair of scrumptious harlequin chicky-babes.

Lily can't be bothered getting out of my bag to wish you well, but I say Happy New Year to you my dears!
Oh and while you're still in holiday-mode, have a peek at the latest Vogoff magazine, the creation of Melanie at Bag and a Beret.
Wowza!

Love Desiree xoxo

Hash-Tag-Totes-Amaze!

Did ma hair-did, done me brows, slapped on some purple glitter eye shadow and it was judging time.
Oh and since it was all in aid of Loud Shirt Day, I thought I'd make it Loud Everything Day.

Big and loud.
That's how I felt today ... big headband, big sequins, big eyeshadow, big bag, big stripes.
And for a worthy charity.
I hope Australia's Hear and Say centres made big money this week to help fund their free programs to help deaf infants and young children learn to speak and communicate with the world.

I think the outfit did the talking for me today.
And see what I did there?
I couldn't decide between two pairs of shoes so I wore one of each.
I am SO freakin' rock 'n roll.

My partner in fab, The Stylist, helped pick winners of the Loud Shirt Day competition, plus she and #3 Son drew lots of raffles, with wonderful prizes donated by artists who sell their works through Creative Treasures.

 He found an astronaut suit ... 

 ... and looked rather fabulous:).

A pose-off with Tom and Jose who run the shop and organised today's event.
Jose wore a beautiful repro 1950s frock, made by one of her shop's sellers, in bright pink cotton.
It was perfect, especially with sticker pipple pasties attached;).

This is Marion who makes beautiful corsets, fish-tail skirts, rockabilly and steampunk-style gear.
She always looks gorgeous and she's wearing one of several Chloe silk blouses she snapped up from Camberwell Market in Melbourne.
I love the cartoon-like embellishments.

I think Marion and I should have gone out on the town and sprayed the joint the colour fabulous!
But this mama's only had four hours sleep so ... not going to happen.

 Marion commissioned this ring to be made from a piece of 1920s jewellery.
Stunning.

She made this fabulous corset and fishtail skirt set, which stands proudly at the front door.
Need.  Them.  So.  Bad.

My sister and mentor while growing up, Mere, sent me this amazing 1950s tapestry bag brought over from NZ by my brother-in-law Pete when he visited us last week.
It's huge, lined in pillar box red, the design is on both sides, it's in the colour scheme I have been dreaming of forever and it's perfectly fabulous!
Isn't she a wonderful sister?  Yes she is:).

Thanks darling Mere, I'm growing ever more disgraceful...

... and a shocking role model. 
Oh dear.

 Sequin top - gifted by that beautiful soul, Heather

Knicker shorts - gifted by Jayne of BOODWAH

1950s tapestry bag - gifted by my beautiful sister

Purple floral headband - more styles in my shop, Sassy Vamps!

Beaded bracelets - gifted by Krista, Curtise and Em

Bangles and earrings - thrifted

VW Melissa Lady Dragon Heart shoes - gold pair from eBay, red pair from Amazon

 I hope you've got some big and loud plans for the weekend, I'll be continuing my patchwork curtain project, doing a bit of spring house reshuffling and gazing at my eyelids.
Enjoy!
Molti baci,
Desiree xo