Valentino, Retrospective: Past/Present/Future

On my little Queensland adventure my dear friend Sophie and I attended the Valentino Retrospective . It truly was a visual feast, one in which my heart skipped many a beat. From the first frock I was completely awestruck. They were beautiful, strange, delicate, "out there" but mostly they were insane. When i say insane what I mean is that each outfit was so incredibly well made and would have taken a crazy amount of time to complete and oh so much hand sewing!!!!

Being a country girl and one obsessed with windmills I couldn't resist a photo of the windmill outside the Qld Art Gallery.

This dress was so pretty and just perfect.

Although you can't see it in this pic this dress was amazing. It had lace, feathers, sequins and so much more and still looked stunning. What I really loved was that from a distance it looked as though the mannequin was tattooed.

Has anyone else been to this exhibition? If you haven't and live in Brissie, do yourself a favour and go!

At my house...

At my house today it is my hubbies birthday. The celebrations began last night with dinner for a few family and friends and tonight it will be a relaxed dinner consisting of leftovers for our little family of 5. There has been many an artwork created over the weekend for Daddy to go with tickets to see John Butler Trio and a roasting pot or something like that that he actually bought for himself a few months ago and insisted it would be his gift. Who am I to argue? Men are so difficult to buy for so it was problem solved for me!

For check out what others have been up to pop on over to Buttons by Lou Lou.

Flea Market Finds

There has not been much finding of the flea market kind around here lately. I have been trying to stay out of the shops (Oppies included) to both save money but also to stay home and concentrate on the many things I need to do. I have the Sugar and Spice Market very soon and I put my hand up to help out with my girl's school concert. Papier Mache heads........ why oh why I am now asking myself!!!! I do work best under pressure so I'm sure it will all work out.

I'm thinking both fabrics would make gorgeous girls summer dresses.

For more Flea Market Finds take a peek over here.

Where else but .................... Queensland! 1.

View from our Hotel

How could I resist a photo of this, my Poppy's new nickname.

I am so in love with the popcorn swimmers. Apparently the result of 6 hours of hard work.

Today 2 weeks ago I was getting ready to board a flight from Melbourne to Brisbane. A few hours previously I had thrown the kids out of the car at my sister's and screeched away from the curb at lightening speed on my way to the airport. I didn't really, I actually got quite teary whilst they didn't seem to care that I would be away for 4 nights. Driving to Tullamarine Airport in the pouring rain and howling wind I started to feel the excitement of being family free and flying off into the distant sunshine.
I arrived in Brisbane and as I was collecting my bag and buying a rail pass to head south to the Gold Coast I was grinning like a maniac. I'm sure I got a few odd looks as the taste of freedom was upon me. I actually had to stop myself from singing aloud to all and sundry "I am free to do what I want any old time".
After a lovely train ride I was picked up at the station by an old school friend and we went to the pub. Yes that's right, the Pub...........in the afternoon! A night of laughter and way too much drinking followed and of course the mother of all hangover's the following day.
The next day I met my beautiful friend Sophie. She moved up north 18 months ago and although she visits us all down here I miss her heaps. We were lucky enough to be able to shop, drink, laugh and get lost together (navigating with a hangover is not my strong point!). Once again, not a child of ours in sight!!!!
Fortitude Valley is apparently the place to shop and among many amazing stores where I couldn't even afford a button I fell in love with Sole devotion.
The shoes in this store are heavenly. A little pricey but oh so gorgeous.

We also went to see the Valentino Retrospective.
More about that soon............

My Place & Yours

Today, after completely slacking on the blogging front for a while I thought it time to get my butt into gear. I thought I'd take part in My Place & Yours along with Danielle over at Helloowl. Today it is Whats in your handbag.


This is a very organised handbag for me. Usually it would contain all manner of child paraphenalia and today just one thing, the little blue car. Now, the reasons for this is that I made myself a new handbag therefore had to cull all the crap that would usually reside in it. This is the bag I took to Qld so because I went childless I was free to have only what I needed!
Phone, glasses case by 2, handcream, sandilwood oil, pawpaw ointment, nasal spray (addicted to it), hair elastic, wallet, tissue, swimschool newsletter and neurofen...........

For more handbag contents pop on over to Helloowl.

My Creative Space

Re-fashioned pillow cases

Vintage tablecloth is now a super cool ladies mini skirt.

The last week I haven't created much at all. These two "creations" are from before my little adventure to Qld. Unfortunately since my return I have "housework back", I am in pain I tell you! I arrived home to a happy but very messy house and set about cleaning up. After vacuuming a room or two I the pain set in. I have since been able to do no sewing and very little housework. A visit to the Osteopath today and one next week and hopefully I will be on the mend. I am so bummed as there are so many things I need to get done. The Sugar & Spice market is fast approaching and I have a few orders to do............agghhhh!

For more Creative Spaces take a look over here.

A new little number...

Yesterday I made this cute little dress as a sample, finished it and declared to myself that it was a winner! Today a lovely customer/friend dropped in to do some shopping before she heads off to New York. Cute little dress was snaffled straight away along with a few other bits and pieces. I'm thrilled to bits that its heading off to the divine little Freddie from NYC.

In other news, tomorrow I am heading north to Queensland. Woohoo for me. No kiddies and no husband for 4 nights. I am beside myself with excitement about seeing some friends and having some time to myself. Strangely, I am missing my family already and know that I will be very happy to head home.
My gorgeous friend Sophie and I are spending a night in Brisbane before we head north to her place in Hervey Bay but before we do we will definately be catching the Valentino Retrospective.

Catch you all next week...

Loved...

My lovely friend Mel who has a fabulous blog over here and has opened her very own madeit shop. She is super crafty and has the best taste. I saw her lovely crochet necklaces and knew straight away that I really must have one in red. The handover took place at school drop off this morning ( gotta love that kind of shopping) and I am loving it.

How clever she is..

I need a new.............

While the kiddies were busy playing yesterday I set about finishing up my new bag. I'm heading off to sunny (well, I hoping it will be) Queensland on Thursday for 4 days and decided a new bag was required. I'm thinking I may also need a new skirt and possibly a make-up bag too........
I'm loving the new bag. I did however come across a few tricky bits and need to figure them out before I start mass producing, that means more than one in my terms! I do though have plans to make more and a friend has already ordered one in different fabric.







I also managed to whip up these little pencil cases yesterday for a special order and will make a few extras for a friend's children I'll be visiting next week.


Today I'm back to the housework, a trip to the park, some bike riding, trampolining, setting up train sets and maybe make a start on my new skirt!

My Creative Space

For My Creative Space this week I am late, but better late than never I say! I don't have orders to fill or a market to prepare for so I've just been pottering around in my studio.

Quality photo!
Yep, that's me.......
and that's what the scarf looks like on!

I've been stocking up on ladies head/neck scarves and really need to get them into my madeit store and make another few for myself. I love wearing my "prototype" that is now starting to look a little worse for wear, time for a newie for me.




I have also started making a new handbag and in true "me" style I don't have a pattern. I'm drawing it up as I go and trying to record in my sketchbook the steps I'm taking. I am not the super organised crafter, more the fly by the seat of my pants type. I usually nut things out on the first one and then if its a while until I get a chance to make more I've forgotten and because I don't always write down the processes so I'm back to square one. Trying very hard to be organised this time.

For more creative spaces pop over to Kootoyoo.

Back in the Habit

I'm playing along with the one and only Pottymouthmama and trying to get Back in the Habit. The whole idea is to form a habit, a good one!

For the next 3 weeks I aim to:
(I know, I know, I know..........boring as bat shit!)

1. Drink more water
2. Exercise more
3. Take time to smell the roses
4. Do more housework

So far I am doing ok! A big day of housework for me yesterday and the house is looking respectable as opposed to the usual state of extreme disorder. More water has been drunk. Walking to school more with dog in tow. No smelling of roses as yet but did catch a lovely moment at school pick up this afternoon. Watching my girls standing together looking for me, so simple yet so gorgeous.

Flea Market Finds

Yep, you guessed it. Fabric and doilies, my Flea Market Finds of choice lately.

2 gorgeous floral pillowcases

Pink embroidered pillow case and a huge stash of doilies, with a gorgeous burgandy one!

Australiana tablecloth, a fine line between very wrong and kinda cool....... hopefully when I start creating with it, it is on the kinda cool end of the spectrum!


Faux patchwork fabric that would be 70's at a guess.

For more Flea Market Finds pop on over here and see what else is going on.