Crafting Can Get a Bit Testy

It's been three years between eye tests.
Not ideal for me as I can barely see the freckle on the top of my nose ... yep, terrible eyesight.
I guess the optometrist thought I was both mad and blind when I turned up in this yesterday.

See the shoes?
Can't miss them I suppose.
I bought them at Camberwell Market in Melbourne last October while we were there for our wedding.
Leather, super comfy and just two bucks.
They used to look like this.

Rather scuffed up toes and a bit grubby.

 

So I waved my magic wand and glitter-fied them.

It was my first attempt and they need a bit of touching up, but I'm happy with them ... beware though, glitter-fication is rather addictive.

 The white bit is on the side is the elastic and yes, I bit of a touch up needed here and there, but I LOVE my new shoes!!
To avoid the constant glitter fallout, I sprayed a couple of coats of  clear gloss spray I bought from the scrap-booking section of a dollar shop.

 Earrings and both brooches - gifted by travelling carni-gal, Helga

1920s tail coat and feather hair clips - eBay

Velvet hot pants - BOODWAH

Leggings - Black Milk

Bag and t-shirt - thrifted

The glitter doesn't stop there, I've been practising my glitter shadow application skills, plus curling my hair with hot sticks.

Meanwhile, The Stylist has also been busy crafting.
Yesterday she chopped up her old and broken crayons, popped them in a silicone muffin  tray, microwaved them and voila ... giant crayons.

The wee lassie is wearing the darling teapot earrings Em of Vintage Sweetheart gifted her ... one colour in each ear of course.

The fun doesn't stop there, I made this feather and rose wrist corsage, which was commissioned by the lovely Jayne of BOODWAH.
She plans on wearing it with a frisky black and red Spanish-style frock at an upcoming wedding.
I think I'll have to make more and pop them in the shop.
If you're interested and have any colour preferences in mind, just let me know and I'll rustle one up for you:).
Well, I think our efforts deserve showing off in Lakota's Tah-Dah Tuesday.
I hope you're having some jolly good flashes of crafty inspiration my darlings!
Baci,
Desiree xo

Early One Morning While Makin' the Rounds, I Took a Shot'a Cocaine an' I Shot My Woman Down.

Unwelcome phone call at 7am: "Hello this is pathology and we need to take some more blood".
Great.
Thanks for that.
I wasn't gonna just roll out of bed and drive down there straight away, those persistent vampires could jolly well wait until I got myself suitably tarted up for the occasion.

 Such inconveniences require comfort, colour and enough layers to make it interesting for the blood suckers ... "oops I dropped my hanky, oh there goes my glove, darn the clip on this bag, hang on a sec I need to fix my lippy, no they're not tattoos they're leggings."

 I adore my leather pony brooch from Em of Vintage Sweetheart as part of Lakota's Jubilee Special Swap:).

 Frilly cotton bloomers ... just because.

 Vintage hat - gifted by lovely Nelly

1950s coat - eBay

Men's t-shirt - Kmart

Bloomers - cheap online shop

Van Gogh-print Leggings - Black Milk

Shoes, bag, gloves - thrifted

Earrings - gifted by Queen Helga

Johnny Cash cameo necklace - gifted by my beautiful Phoenix

 I have a photo of The Phoenix aged 23 and he looks just like this ... Johnny's doppleganger.
It's interesting how my hubby ages very similar to the way Cash did ... raaaooooowwwwwwww!!!

Oh yeah, I'm hooked on Instagram ... come and say hello at desireedares if you're really bored and have nothing better to do.

Baci,
Desiree xoxo

This Jubilee Thingy is a Circus!

It took inspiration by sweet Em of Vintage Sweetheart to make me feel some of the Jubilee lurve the Brits have been celebrating today.
She and I are swap partners in Lakota's Jubilee Swap Special and my parcel arrived today!

Darling Em certainly did her research and everything she sent me was circus-themed.
Woooohooooo!!

The fabric wrapping had circus teddies on it and she made a beautiful Union Jack card from felt.

Just look at all these goodies!
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
I nearly pee'd myself with excitement at discovering these amazing treasures ... 

Em had a lucky day at the opp shops and found this FANTASTIC thick cotton buttoned waistcoat, just in time for winter layering ... I LOVE it!!

Em's lovely Mum made this beautiful circus pony brooch from white leather ... thank you mama, it's beautiful:)).

Red, white and blue star earrings.

A lovely heart-shaped floral ring.

A huge fuck-off harlequin bow - my first one ever!!!!

ROOOOAAAAAWWWWWW ... a vintage suspender belt ... come to mama!

She even remembered The Stylist and sent her these beautiful teapot earrings:)).

Time to limber up for an immediate dress-up session, pronto!

Can you tell I love my fuck-off bow?

Bloomers - BOODWAH

Leggings - Black Milk

Vintage dancing shoes - thrifted

It's impossible not to get in a party mood when the circus is in town ... I hope those of you out celebrating the Jubilee are having a wickedly wonderful time:)).

Baci,

Desiree xoxo

She's All Woman!!!!!

I can honestly say Helga is real.
Yes REAL I say!
From her gorgeous topknot to her delicate tippy-toes and all the firm, rumptious bits in between.
I cried when I first held her in my arms.
"You're real, you're real!" I screeched repeatedly.

Yep, real.

And she really made this amazing halter frock out of a curtain with her own fair hands!

Darling Kitty picked up our fair Queen from the airport and we met for screeching, crying and  a nosh-up at Kitty's lovely cottage.

Helga arrived with wee gifts for Kitty and I, including a lovely little parcel from the darling V of Two Squirrels Vintage ... pics to come.

I had to get a shot of Helga's glorious Art Nouveau-style back tattoo, which I've admired for oh so long!

I had a 70s cotton frock for the Queen and then it was time for some frolicking dress-ups.

The 50s plastic earrings reminded me of fig leaves.
So what does one do with fig leaves, but wear them!
We were all in agreement of course.

Kitty gifted our Queen with a stack of glorious frocks, thereby doubling her weekend wardrobe.

All for the price of a bite on the arse.
Bargain!

Kitty took delivery of a beautiful 1950s duchess satin evening gown while we were there ... so beautiful!

Then it was off to Paddington for its oppy hunting grounds and much nipple tweaking.

Kitty demonstrates the super quality of this thick cotton 70s suit ... covet away.

A lovely burgundy 60s nylon nightgown, it was a bit over-priced for an oppy, but I could really see Helga rocking this saucy number.
Alas, after trawling the Paddington Antique Centre and stopping for coffee and non-stop chat, our time was up and Helga was on to the next chapter of her weekend.
I feel like I've known Helga for years now that I've met her and the three of us had the most thoroughly wonderful love-in.
Thank you Kitty and Helga for a day I will never forget!
Catch up on Kitty and Helga's wonderful posts and more memories to treasure forever:).
Molti baci,
Desiree xoxo